Kentuckiana Medical Center ranked #1 Hospital in Louisville Area for Patient Safety by Consumer Reports

CLARKSVILLE, Ind., March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kentuckiana Medical Center (KMC), managed by the national healthcare development firm Galichia Hospital Group (GHG), is ranked as the '#1 Hospital in Louisville Area for Patient Safety' by Consumer Reports. The announcement is made jointly by GHG's Chairman & CEO Joseph P. Galichia, M.D., F.A.C.C., and Michael Phillips, CEO of KMC.

The top ranking was first released March 27, 2014, by WAVE-TV's 11-time Emmy Award winning investigative reporter Eric Flack, who report says, "the highest safety score in Consumer Reports for Louisville area hospital ratings is far from a household name. It's the Kentuckiana Medical Center in Clarksville, Indiana...only Kentuckiana Medical Center received an above-average rating for avoiding medical mortality, which is based on how likely patients are to die within 30 days of being admitted for a heart attack, heart failure, or pneumonia." 

Analysts also considered how often surgery patients with serious but treatable complications die in the hospital. Flack's article and related video are posted at: http://www.wave3.com/story/25094278/report-ranks-kentucky-indiana-below-average. Further, the chart delineating the performance data is found at: http://wave.images.worldnow.com/images/3433137_G.jpg.

Phillips attributes KMC's better patient survival rate to its outstanding heart doctors: Drs. Chris Stavens, John Rumisek, Rob Dowling, and all the other clinicians that care for patients at KMC. 

"We have amazing physicians at Kentuckiana Medical Center. Drs. Stavens, Rumasek and Dowling, plus many others are constantly saving the lives of extremely sick people, some of whom were transferred to them from other local hospitals for heart care because the physicians feel being at KMC after a heart attack is the best chance a patient has for survival. Consumer Reports recent performance data has confirmed they are correct."

According to Dr. Rumasek, KMC's Chief of Surgery, "Physicians and clinical staff enjoy practicing at KMC because in this environment and culture patient care comes first. Physicians tell administration what is needed to care for patients at KMC, not the other way around."

GHG's Dr. Galichia, said, "What is really amazing is that KMC's acuity per patient is higher then the other hospitals in the area. What this means is that heart patients at KMC have survived more often on a per patient basis then heart patients at other local hospitals even though KMC's average patient was sicker. It's a testament to their dedication to clinical care and high safety standards."

Dr. John Santa, Medical Director for Consumer Reports Consumer Health Choices, said in the WAVE-TV news article, "Although this data is from people 65 and older, it's a good indication of a hospital's attention to safety. And we find the chance of dying is much higher in some hospitals than others."

Further, quoting from the Consumer Reports website: "Consumer Reports supports consumers in identifying and choosing high-quality, high-value, products and services, and optimizing their health and wellness. We advocate for public policies and marketplace changes that allow and promote fair, just, and high-value health systems. Consumer Health Choices is where you can find free Consumer Reports resources for patients and their families." Link for more information at: http://consumerhealthchoices.org.

About Kentuckiana Medical Center

KMC employs close to 200 people and is located just off U.S. 31 in Clarksville, IN, which is part of the greater Louisville Metropolitan area. KMC has been serving the community of Southern Indiana and Kentucky since 2009 and has since received certification from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation program (HFAP). For more information about Kentuckiana Medical Center, visit http://www.kentuckianamedcen.com.

About Galichia Hospital Group

Guided by Dr. Joseph Galichia, GHG's mission is to provide integrated healthcare systems that provide the highest quality care possible.  The Group's model is to provide efficient, cost-effective health care services that meet the needs of the community while embracing the concept that patient care comes first. This vision is based on Dr. Galichia's experience providing medical care in many international locales and various healthcare systems. For more information, visit: http://www.galichiahospitalgroup.com.

SOURCE Galichia Hospital Group; Kentuckiana Medical Center