Crozer-Chester Medical Center has again been recognized for clinical excellence in cardiac care according to a recent study released by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading healthcare quality company.
Crozer has been ranked among the top 10 percent nationally, and among the top 10 hospitals in Pennsylvania, for cardiology for the past four years (2003-2006). The medical center has also been ranked among the top 10 percent nationally, and among the top 10 hospitals in Pennsylvania, for coronary interventional procedures for the past two years (2005-2006). In addition, Crozer has achieved five-star ratings in four clinical areas related to cardiology: coronary interventional procedures, heart attack, heart failure and valve replacement surgery.
“We’re very pleased and proud to be recognized with these outstanding HealthGrades quality ratings, which validate our commitment to clinical excellence,” says Joan K. Richards, chief operating officer of Crozer-Keystone Health System and president of CKHS Hospitals. “Top ratings from an independent, objective national source demonstrate the quality care that our physicians, nurses and staff deliver to the patients and families in out community every day.”
As part of its seventh annual Hospital Quality in America Study, HealthGrades independently analyzed nearly 5,000 hospitals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its 2005 ratings, objectively assessing their clinical outcomes and quality. The HealthGrades ratings measure whether patient outcomes for each of more that two dozen procedures and diagnoses are better than expected (5-Star), as expected (3-Star) or worse that expected (1-Star).
Joseph Saunders, chief operating officer for Crozer-Chester Medical Center and CKHS vice president, added, “ These ratings confirm what we have known for a long time – that Crozer’s experienced cardiac physicians, nurses and other clinicians provide high-quality cardiac care to the people of Delaware County. Congratulations to our entire cardiac team on these honors.”
Crozer’s ratings in the area of Coronary Interventional Procedures refer to the mechanical treatment of heart diseases, including the use of cardiac catheterization and stents to open blocked coronary arteries.
Ancil Jones, M.D., chief of Cardiology at Crozer, says, “Since we began offering interventional cardiology services in 1992, we have taken many steps to make sure that we can help patients achieve the best possible outcome. These include offering primary angioplasty for the treatment of heart attack patients and drug-eluting stents for patients with clogged arteries. We also recently introduced new, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories.”
Health Grades, Inc. is the leading independent health care quality company, providing ratings, information, and advisory services to health care providers, employers, health plans, and insurance companies. HealthGrades works with health care providers to help assess, improve and promote their quality. The 2005 HealthGrades ratings for all hospitals nationwide are available, free of charge, on the web at www.healthgrades.com.