NMC named as one of nation’s 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals

Forum Health Northside Medical Center was named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® for cardiovascular care in a annual study by the healthcare business of Thomson-Reuter.

The Top 100 Hospital Cardiovascular Benchmark Success Award recognizes hospitals with full-service cardiovascular programs that have achieved national performance levels for clinical and managerial excellence.As a 2008 award recipient, Northside Medical Center has set national standards for treating cardiovascular disease.

“This is not only a reflection of the level of quality care provided at Northside Medical Center, but a true testament to the skilled physicians, nurses and medical professionals we have treating these patients the second they enter through our hospital doors,” said Walter “Buzz” Pishkur, Forum Health President and CEO.

The 2008 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success annual study examined the performance of 970 hospitals. Clinical outcomes were analyzed by analyzing clinical outcomes for patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and heart failure and for those who received coronary bypass surgery and angioplasties.

The study found that as a group the 100 Top Hospital cardiovascular award winners performed 63 percent more bypass surgeries and 42 percent more angioplasties than peer hospitals.

While the average mortality rate for cardiovascular patients is very low (3.4 percent), the mortality rate for bypass surgery was 26 percent lower in the 100 Top Hospitals cardiovascular award winners. These hospitals demonstrated higher performance on the evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and on average cost $1,542 less per case.