According to a new study released by Health Grade, a health ratings company, the top 5 % of U.S hospitals graded for clinical excellence, effectively contribute to lower the risk of death to patients by almost 27%, with only 14% being the risk of complications. Health Grades, as part of their checks for quality and clinical virtue, studied 39 million hospitals in the United States.
Death and complication rates for major surgeries and treatments were analyzed. It is estimated that, during 2002, 2003 and 2004, a whopping 152,966 lives and 21,896 complications could have been averted, if the quality of care had compared to the top 5%.According to Dr. Samantha Collier, Health Grades' Vice president of medical affairs, the findings from the data are really a matter of concern clearly demarcating the best hospitals from the rest, urging consumers to rely on a thorough reference check before approaching any hospital for treatment.
This report would indeed be a motivation to other US hospitals to emulate quality and clinical standards, par excellence.
