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Quality Data Release Shows N.J. Hospitals Among Nation's Best in Caring for Heart Attack, Pneumonia Patients

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 March 2007, 18:00 CDT

PRINCETON, N.J., March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hospital quality data released today by The Joint Commission shows New Jersey hospitals ranking above national averages in 19 different measures for treating heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia patients.

The data, part of the Chicago-based hospital accrediting agency's "Improving America's Hospitals: A Report on Quality and Safety," tracked whether hospitals provided treatment protocols shown by scientific evidence to be effective in improving patient care. Forty-nine of New Jersey's 82 acute- care hospitals were surveyed in 2005 as part of the Joint Commission's accreditation process. Their data was included in this study.

One Joint Commission measure made public today tracked inpatient mortality for heart attack patients, which was reported as the average percentage of patients dying during their hospital stay. Taking into account how sick the patients were and their pre-existing conditions, New Jersey hospitals, at a range of 4.5-6.7 percent, ranked among the top 10 states in the nation for heart attack survival.

In other areas where they scored higher than the national average in complying with accepted procedures, New Jersey hospitals:

-- Gave heart attack patients clot busting beta blocker medication on arrival 95.5 percent of the time, compared with the national average of 93 percent; -- Prescribed aspirin to heart attack patients at discharge 96.4 percent of the time, compared to the national average of 96.1 percent; -- Performed a left ventricular function assessment on heart failure patients 96.2 percent of the time, compared to a national average of 92.3 percent; -- Administered an initial antibiotic to pneumonia patients within four hours of arrival 82.4 percent of the time, compared to a national average of 77.2 percent; -- Took blood cultures for pneumonia patients in intensive care units 95.2 percent of the time, compared to the national average of 88.9 percent.

Although they're only one piece of the hospital quality puzzle, measuring things like how many heart attack patients receive clot busting drugs on arrival to the emergency room or whether pneumonia patients are given antibiotics within four hours of initial assessment help physicians, nurses and hospital management assess ways to improve care, according to officials at the New Jersey Hospital Association.

"These are welcomed results not only for the hospitals that participated in the project, but also for millions of patients who seek medical care at our facilities each year," said Aline Holmes, RN, NJHA's senior vice president for clinical affairs. "Considering that more than 1,500 hospitals nationwide were evaluated on these various criteria, New Jersey's results show that Garden State hospitals are putting best practices into action."

"This study reflects a snapshot of a work in progress. Improving quality is a journey and we're well on our way," added NJHA President and CEO Gary Carter.

Carter cited specific activities already in place including ongoing staff education, training and the sharing of best practices across the state. Much of these activities are being coordinated through NJHA's Quality Institute.

The Joint Commission is the nation's primary hospital and healthcare organization accrediting organization. Princeton-based NJHA has provided its 115 member hospitals with advocacy, data, continuing education and communication since 1918.

New Jersey Hospital Association

CONTACT: Aline Holmes, +1-609-275-4157, or Ron Czajkowski,+1-609-275-4071, both of the New Jersey Hospital Association

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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