 Livingston, NJ (October 13, 2009) – A study issued today
by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization,
finds that Saint Barnabas is among the top 5 percent in the nation for
cardiac surgery and top ranked in New Jersey for cardiac surgery. As
a result, Saint Barnabas is a recipient of the HealthGrades 2010 Cardiac
Surgery Excellence Award.
Saint Barnabas’ cardiac care received the highest five-star
rating for cardiac surgery, coronary bypass surgery and valve replacement
surgery. The hospital also received 5-star ratings across other
service lines including:
- Treatment of Stroke
- Treatment of Pneumonia
- Maternity Care
- Women’s Health
Saint Barnabas Medical Center is committed to providing superior care
for our patients. “We are thrilled to be recognized for
the second year in a row as the top ranked hospital for cardiac surgery
in New Jersey. This year marks the 10th anniversary of our cardiac
surgery program. Being recognized as the top program in the state speaks
to the dedication and focus of all of the physicians, nurses and the
extensive multi-disciplinary staff that is involved in caring for our
patients. It is a crowning achievement for the program,” states
John F. Bonamo, MD, MS, Executive Director, Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
The HealthGrades twelfth annual Hospital Quality in America study,
the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes from
nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records.
Top-performing hospitals had dramatically lower mortality rates than
other hospitals, according to the study. For the 17 procedures and diagnoses
for which HealthGrades analyzed mortality rates, patients at top hospitals
had a 72 percent lower chance of dying when compared with the lowest-performing
hospitals, and a 52 percent lower chance of dying when compared to the
U.S. national average.
HealthGrades rates hospitals independently based on data that hospitals
submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. No hospital can opt in
or out of being rated, and no hospital pays to be rated.
For 28 procedures and treatments, HealthGrades issues star ratings
that reflect the mortality and complication rates for each category
of care. Hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have mortality or complication
rates that are below the national average, to a statistically significant
degree. A 3-star rating means the hospital performs as expected. One-star
ratings indicate the hospital’s mortality or complication rates
in that procedure or treatment are statistically higher than average.
Because the risk profiles of patient populations at hospitals are not
alike, HealthGrades risk-adjusts the data to allow for apples-to-apples
comparisons.
More information on today’s HealthGrades study, including the
complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com.
Since 1865, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), located at 94 Old
Short Hills Road in Livingston, is New Jersey’s oldest nonprofit,
nonsectarian hospital. The 597-bed institution
is one of the largest heath care providers in the state, treating more
than 37,000 inpatients and over 75,000 Emergency Department patients
each year. The Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care
Center provide treatment and services for more than 300,000 outpatient
visits annually. For more information on Saint Barnabas Medical Center,
please visit saintbarnabas.com and select Saint Barnabas Medical Center
from the facilities list or call
1-888-SBHS-123.
Contact: Sally Malech, Director Marketing/Public Relations
Saint
Barnabas Medical Center
(973) 322-5441 or 862-438-7226
(cell)
smalech@sbhcs.com
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