Ochsner Medical Center Only Louisiana Hospital Ranked Top 5% in Nation

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Ochsner Medical Center, 1514 Jefferson Highway, announced today its strong patient outcomes have ranked it among the top 5% in the nation for exceptional care. HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization, analyzed patient outcomes at each of the U.S.'s 5,000 hospitals from 2006-2008 and only 5%, or 269 hospitals, are being recognized with the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ award.

"This award is a reflection of our mission and the promise we make to our patients every day; to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate. Patients expect to receive the best care, they put their lives in our hands, and this award shows that we've delivered on that promise," said Dr. Patrick Quinlan, CEO, Ochsner Health System.

Today's announcement marks the 8th Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study by HealthGrades. This study highlights hospitals which have demonstrated that their patients had risk-adjusted mortality rates, on average, 29% lower than all other hospitals and risk-adjusted complication rates, on average, 9% lower than all other hospitals. Results are risk-adjusted, objective data based on patient outcomes of 26 common Medicare inpatient procedures and diagnoses.

The study states: "Patients who choose to receive their care at a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence will have a lower risk for an adverse clinical outcome relative to all other hospitals."

"We began working with HealthGrades in 2005 to improve our patient outcomes, lower complication rates and decrease mortality rates in cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary disorders, sepsis, stroke, and most recently, orthopedics," explained Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, Ochsner Medical Director for Clinical Practice Improvement. Ochsner concentrated its efforts on delivering reliable, standardized care, based on scientific evidence. Kemmerly says, "As we've expanded these processes throughout our hospital, we're seeing improvements in all the patients we serve."

An example of how Ochsner's improvements are saving lives is the case of New Orleans' Ritz Carlton Chef Matt Murphy. "Matt entered Ochsner critically ill and required the care of over 10 physician teams. Our standardized protocols allowed us to effectively manage his many complications and ultimately save his life," explains Kemmerly. Ochsner's ability to coordinate 10 teams of medical specialists, on an ongoing basis for any patient, showcases the success of the group practice model and how it benefits patients and their outcomes. The group practice model is also used by the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.

"Our data show that only a select few hospitals achieve high-quality patient outcomes across the board and over time," said Rick May, MD, a vice president with HealthGrades and an author of the study. "Patients in communities with a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence should be confident that their level of care is among the best in the nation."

"I am extremely proud of the consistent leadership and a dedicated staff at Ochsner Medical Center. Their commitment to improvement and error-free care has saved thousands of lives," said Michael Hulefeld, CEO, Ochsner Medical Center.

Methodology: HealthGrades independently analyzed the clinical quality performance of all non-federal hospitals across the country in 26 procedures and diagnoses. In the study, the company reviewed approximately 40 million hospitalization records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.  All hospitals that participate in the Medicare program were part of the independent study. A full copy of the study is available at http://www.healthgrades.com.

SOURCE Ochsner Medical Center