Jul 9, 2009 1:25 pm US/Eastern
Hospital Death Rates Differ Across U.S.
Report: Big Gaps In Heart Attack, Heart Failure Mortality And Readmission Rates Hospital To Hospital
(AP)
Death rates for heart attack and heart failure patients in the U.S. vary significantly from hospital to hospital, according to a new study released Thursday by the American Heart Association.
Based on data from government statistics, the report found:
- The average 30-day death rate for heart attack was 16.6 percent and the average rate of heart attack readmission was 19.9 percent.
- The average 30-day death rate for heart failure was 11.1 percent and 24.4 percent for readmission.
"What we're seeing is that, for example, for heart attack patients, the best hospital in the country has a 30-day mortality rate of only about 11 percent and the hospital with the highest rate in the country has a rate of almost 25 percent," the study's lead author, Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz, said.
"This suggests that patients' outcomes are dependent, at least in part, on the hospital that provides their care," Krumholz said in an AHA press release.
Patients needing to be readmitted to hospitals reduce the quality of health care and increase costs, the 2009 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is attached to the Health and Human Services department, said Thursday.
The new data comes asCMS unveiled its latest comparisons of U.S. hospitals.
"The President and Congress have both identified the reduction of readmissions as a target area for health reform," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "When we reduce readmissions, we improve the quality of care patients receive and cut health care costs."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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