USC University Hospital Recognized Among Nation’s Best for Clinical Outcomes
USC University Hospital (USCUH) announced today it has achieved the highest possible rating–a five-star–for gastrointestinal (GI) medical services and surgeries, according to a comprehensive study released by HealthGrades, a national healthcare ratings company.
“Receiving HealthGrades’ top rating for our GI programs gives additional validation to the quality of care our patients receive at USC University Hospital,” said Debbie Walsh, the hospital’s chief executive officer. “Our entire staff exhibits a high level of commitment to these types of diseases while treating each of our patients with compassion.”
USCUH received HealthGrades’ top rating for GI procedures such as stomach, colorectal, gall bladder and esophageal surgery. One of the hospital’s patients, Andrew Casas, 19, of Downey, experienced the hospital’s outstanding care first hand. After enduring two unsuccessful surgeries for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at another medical center, he found relief with USCUH surgeon Jeffrey Hagen, M.D.
“People really need to do their research before they go into surgery,” said Casas. “I had been suffering with GERD for years. My problems were so severe that I needed to take fifteen pills a day and I still couldn’t keep food down. I am grateful to have found USC University Hospital and Dr. Hagen.”1
Dr. Hagen, part of USCUH’s internationally recognized team specializing in the treatment of GERD and other complex esophageal diseases, said that a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of Casas’ case was a critical first step in resolving his problem.
“Andrew’s case represents the depth of experience and understanding of our GI team,” Dr. Hagen said. “We were able to treat his condition properly so that after two failed surgeries, he probably won’t need surgery for GERD again.”
As part of its ninth annual Hospital Quality in America Study, HealthGrades independently analyzed more than 5,000 hospitals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its 2007 ratings, objectively assessing their clinical outcomes and quality. The 40 million hospitalization records utilized in the assessment are publicly available and licensed from the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The HealthGrades ratings take into account varying degrees of patient severity from hospital to hospital and measure whether patient outcomes for each of more than two dozen procedures and diagnoses are better than expected (5-Star), as expected (3-Star) or worse than expected (1-Star).
“Consumers continue to ask for more and better information to help them in their health care decision making,” said Samantha Collier, M.D., HealthGrades’ senior vice president of medical affairs. “Our analysis provides an apples-to-apples comparison of hospital performance by procedure or diagnosis, and it is evident there is significant variance between individual hospitals. For USC University Hospital to rank among the nation’s best for GI medical services reflects the efforts of everybody in the organization and should be very comforting to area residents.”
The 2007 HealthGrades ratings for all hospitals nationwide are available, free of charge, on HealthGrades’ consumer Web site, located at www.healthgrades.com. More than three million individuals and employees of more than 125 major employers visit the HealthGrades web site every month to access quality information about hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. HealthGrades also provides consumers and payers with detailed assessments of hospitals’ patient-safety outcomes, based on indicators developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
About USC University Hospital
USC University Hospital (USCUH), part of Tenet California, is a private, 265-bed research and teaching hospital staffed by the faculty of the renowned Keck School of Medicine of the USC. USCUH offers patients the compassionate environment of a private hospital along with the extensive experience and research capabilities of a prominent medical school. Named in 2006 by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals for Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Neurology/Neurosurgery and Gynecology, USCUH is fully accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital is poised for growth and will open the 10-story Norris Inpatient Tower in 2007. To learn more, visit http://www.uscuh.com or call (323) 442-8500.
1 This testimonial reflects the outcome of this patient. As each case is different and must be independently evaluated and managed, actual outcomes will vary.