Swedish/Edmonds recognized for clinical excellence
Published 11:52 am Thursday, January 27, 2011
EDMONDS — Swedish/Edmonds is among the top five percent of hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence according to HealthGrades, the nation’s leading, independent health-care ratings company.
The hospital is one of only three in Washington state to receive HealthGrades’ 2011 Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence Award. This honor means Swedish/Edmonds has consistently demonstrated outstanding clinical quality.
Patients at top-rated hospitals such as Swedish/Edmonds, on average, are 29 percent less likely to die while in the hospital and 1.9 percent less likely to experience a major in-hospital complication than people treated at other hospitals.
“This is an honor shared by our dedicated, caring team of more than 1,800 hospital staff members and physicians,” said Michael Carter, senior vice president and chief administrative officer of Swedish/Edmonds. “Being ranked among the top five percent of hospitals in the nation puts us among a very elite group and it’s an affirmation to our patients and to the community that we’re committed everyday to heath-care excellence and safety.”
HealthGrades based its decision to award clinical excellence to Swedish/Edmonds on an independent analysis of millions of patient records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates were evaluated across 26 medical procedures and diagnoses — from stroke treatment to total knee replacement.
“Our research indicates that the recent health care reform debate and highly-publicized reports about the persistence of wide variation in the quality of patient care at U.S. hospitals have resonated with the American public,” said Dr. Rick May, HealthGrades vice president of clinical quality services and study co-author. “No longer is today’s health-care consumer simply looking for the least expensive option when it comes to medical care. They expect high quality and are willing to go out of their way to get it.”
Five-star rated
In addition to the award for clinical excellence, Swedish/Edmonds also received top, five-star ratings from HealthGrades for treatment of stroke, pneumonia and overall gastrointestinal services. This is the third year in a row the hospital has been honored for its care of stroke and pneumonia.
According to HealthGrades, Swedish/Edmonds is among an elite group of medical centers demonstrating a commitment to quality that stands as a model for other hospitals.
Health Grades Inc. is the leading independent health care ratings organization, providing quality ratings, profiles and cost information on the nation’s hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and prescription drugs.
