Huntington Memorial Hospital Receives National Recognition for Exemplary Surgical Quality Outcomes From the American College of Surgeons

PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) has recognized Huntington Memorial Hospital, as one of 26 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals in the United States that have achieved exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.  As a participant in ACS NSQIP, Huntington Hospital is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that directs patient safety and the quality of surgical care improvements.  

"We are thrilled to be among the 26 hospitals recognized by the ACS for our surgical outcomes," said Steven Katz, M.D., surgeon champion of Huntington Hospital's NSQIP project.  "Staff has worked tirelessly toward the goal of ensuring our surgical patients' safety at Huntington Hospital, and clearly our efforts have been realized.  This is a wonderful outcome for the hospital and for our community.  I know this honor will further motivate our surgical teams to keep moving in this positive direction."  

The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving exemplary outcome performances related to patient management in five clinical areas:  DVT (deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism); cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction); Respiratory (Pneumonia); SSI (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and organ-space SSIs); or urinary tract infection.  Risk-adjusted data from the June 2010 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated exemplary outcomes.  

ACS NSQIP is the only nationally validated quality improvement program that measures and enhances the care of surgical patients. This program measures the actual surgical results 30 days postoperatively as well as risk adjusts patient characteristics to compensate for differences among patient populations and acuity levels.  The goal of ACS NSQIP is to reduce surgical morbidity (infection or illness related to a surgical procedure) and surgical mortality (death related to a surgical procedure) and to provide a firm foundation for surgeons to apply what is known as the "best scientific evidence" to the practice of surgery.  Furthermore, when adverse effects from surgical procedures are reduced and/or eliminated, a reduction in healthcare costs follows.  ACS NSQIP is a major program of the American College of Surgeons and is currently used in over 250 hospitals.

Huntington Memorial Hospital is a 626-bed not-for-profit hospital that is home to the only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley.  Renowned for its programs in neurosciences, cardiovascular services and cancer care, Huntington Hospital is an active teaching hospital with Graduate Medical Education programs in internal medicine and general surgery.  In 2011, the hospital was granted Magnet® status and named a Best Hospital (regional) by U.S. News and World Report in eight specialties.  Huntington Hospital has a regional neonatal intensive care unit, treating babies with the highest acuity.  For nearly 120 years, Huntington Hospital has been committed to serving its community with excellence, compassion and respect.  Consistent with its mission, the hospital provides millions of dollars in charity care and benefits for vulnerable populations, and towards health research, education and training and support programs that may otherwise be absent from the community.  These programs include geriatric psychiatric services, children's asthma management and diabetes workshops in English and Spanish.  

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient.  The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients.  The College has more than 74,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

SOURCE Huntington Memorial Hospital