Scripps Health Named Among Top 15 Health Systems in Nation

SAN DIEGO, April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Scripps Health has been named among the 15 top health systems in the nation by the international business research firm Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters. This is Scripps' second appearance on the Top Health System's list.

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Researchers from the Truven 100 Top Hospitals® program analyzed the clinical quality and efficiency of more than 300 health systems to identify the top 15. The list recognizes the top five systems in three categories: small, medium and large based on their annual operating expenses. Scripps is the only California health system to be recognized in the "large" systems category (having more than $1.5 billion in operating expenses).

"Being recognized as one of the nation's top 15 health systems – and especially as one of the top five large systems – by one of the world's leading independent rating organizations it's a true honor and a testament to the exceptional care provided by our physicians and staff," said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps. "This distinction further demonstrates the Scripps' commitment to consistently provide safe, high quality and compassionate care to all of our patients."

The top health systems were announced in the April 15^th edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

"As health systems move further into health care reform, consistency of hospital and physician outcomes in every community served is the holy grail," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals® program at Truven Health Analytics.  "Health system leaders' effectiveness will be measured not solely on the performance of the whole system compared to other systems, but also on the leader's ability to align the performance of the provider segments of the health system to achieve consistency. This new study begins to measure the aspect of performance."

U.S. health systems with two or more short-term, general, non-federal hospitals; cardiac and orthopedic hospitals; and critical access hospitals were assessed in the study. Researchers looked at eight metrics that gauge clinical quality and efficiency: mortality rate, 30-day readmission rate, adherence to clinical standards of care (evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), and HCAHPS patient survey score (part of a national initiative sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to measure the quality of care in hospitals).

The study relied on public data from the 2010 and 2011 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data and the CMS Hospital Compare data sets.

Researchers from the Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals program have analyzed and reported on the performance of individual hospitals since 1993.

ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH

Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $2.6 billion nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,600 affiliated physicians and 13,500 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, hospice and home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of physician offices and 24 outpatient centers and clinics.

Recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine, wireless health care and graduate medical education. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges and is recognized by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) for having one of the top teaching hospitals in the nation. Scripps is also the region's only cardiovascular program recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the country. Scripps has been consistently recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.

SOURCE Scripps Health