By: Robert Remler
The study identified hospitals and their management teams who demonstrate superior clinical, operational and financial performance. The annual study compared 3,086 hospitals across the nation, grouping them into five categories. The categories are established based on teaching status and number of hospital beds. The five categories are: major teaching hospitals, teaching hospitals, large community hospitals, medium community hospitals and small community hospitals. There are 40 teaching hospitals in New York state of varying size and scope. NSUH, with 731 beds, was the only facility in the major teaching hospital category in the state to make the top 100 list. The facility joins 22 other major teaching hospitals in the nation who made the list.Solucient calculated data for each hospital using Medicare reports from 2000 and Medicare provider analysis and review data from 1999 and 2000. Hospitals were ranked on the basis of their performance on each of eight measures, with an emphasis on data quality."This is an outstanding achievement for NSUH," said Denis Dowling, the facility's executive director. "For the first time we have joined an elite group of hospitals that are being recognized for their ability to measure success in terms of quality patient care and financial stability."Solucient's original list was published in December 2002 and due to a database error, did not include NSUH. A revised list, including NSUH, was released April 14."The entire staff and management team worked hard to earn this distinction and we will continue to strive to raise the bar," said Dowling.
Further distinction for NSUH
A report issued by the state Department of Health showed that NSUH had the lowest, statistically significant, mortality rate in New York state for angioplasty in 2000, the most recent year for which statistic are available. Angioplasty is a procedure used to clear blocked coronary arteries in order to increase blood flow.Of the 36 hospitals approved to do angioplasty in the state, NSUH reported a mortality rate of 0.36, which is significantly lower from a statistical standpoint than any other hospital in the state. Angioplasty has a more than 99 percent survival rate.In addition, the Department of Health also included mortality rates for individual cardiologists performing angioplasty. Dr. Lawrence Y. Ong of NSUH and Dr. Barry Kaplan of Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ) were named to the top four cardiologists in the state - and the only two on Long Island -performing angioplasty. The report was based on outcomes for more than 250 cardiologists statewide.The Department of Health data from 1998-2000 showed that NSUH was one of only three hospitals in New York state with significantly lower mortality rates. NSUH handled 7,795 angioplasty procedures during that period, which is the second highest volume in the state. Notably, LIJ tied for the fourth-lowest angioplasty mortality rate in the state in both 2002 and for the period 1998-2000.
Teenage driving safety and drinking
Winthrop-University Hospital's Parenting Today program will present "Dare To Care: Teenage Driving Safety and Drinking," on May 14. The program will provide guidelines on how to effectively teach your children about driving safety and the dangers of underage drinking.Judy Jax, trauma coordinator for the Department of Surgery at Winthrop, will discuss parental responsibility and injury prevention. She will also relate the consequences of unsafe driving habits and alcohol use. Information will also be given regarding the new graduated licensing regulations that will go into effect in September. A question and answer session will follow the lecture.Parenting Today is a free community health education program coordinated by children's Health Services and the Department of Pediatrics, which is part of the Institute for Family Care at Winthrop.Registration is at 6:45 p.m., followed by a lecture at 7 p.m., at Winthrop Community Outreach Center, 101 Mineola Blvd, Mineola. Parking and the entrance are at the rear of the building. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Call 1-877-559-KIDS for more information.
Accent on Women
Accent on Women is a newly implemented program designed to highlight the full range of women's services available at Mercy Medical Center. The center is offering free patient education seminars on current topics of concern to women. The seminars will be presented by Aileen Nathan. Nathan's 29-year affiliation with the hospital includes 15 years in critical care and as a staff nurse in labor and delivery. She is presently a childbirth coordinator and a certified childbirth educator, offering classes in Lamaze and tot saver CPR. Accent on Women's spring seminar schedule includes abnormal vaginal bleeding on May 14 at 10 a.m. and breast health on May 23 at 10 a.m. Pre-registration is required. For more information call (516) 62-MERCY.
