Englewood Hospital Named 5-Star Recipient for Appendectomy, Carotid Procedures, Gallbladder Surgery, Hip Fracture Treatment

Posted on by John Williams

Englewood Hospital Excels in Clinical Outcomes According to Healthgrades

November 12, 2019 — Englewood Hospital has been recognized as a 5-star recipient in appendectomy, carotid procedures, gallbladder surgery, and hip fracture treatment by Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This achievement—the fourth consecutive year for appendectomy and the second consecutive year for the other services—is part of the Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation, which underscores the importance of hospital quality to both consumers and hospital leaders.

“These 5-star distinctions indicate that Englewood Hospital’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated,” says Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health.

Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions using Medicare data. Outcomes for appendectomy are determined using all-payer data provided by 15 states.

Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes. From 2016-2018, if all hospitals performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5 stars, on average, 220,019 lives could potentially have been saved and 149,403 complications could potentially have been avoided.*

For the 2020 Report to the Nation, Healthgrades compared hospitals with statistically better-than-expected performance (5 stars), as a group, to those with statistically worse-than-expected performance (1 star) and found that from 2016‐2018, patients having hip fracture repair in hospitals with 5 stars had, on average, a 46.6% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals with 1 star.* In addition from 2016‐2018, patients having carotid procedures in hospitals with 5 stars had, on average a 64.7% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals with 1 star.*

“Receiving 5-star ratings in these areas for several years in a row reflects the dedication of the Englewood Health team to put patient needs first, therefore ensuring the best clinical outcomes,” says Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “As we hold ourselves to the highest standards of both quality and safety, our goal is to always provide an exceptional experience. This is made possible through the commitment of our providers, nurses and the entire healthcare team.”

Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected), and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories.

“Consumers have many choices when it comes to choosing a hospital where to receive care and the choice can be a matter of life and death,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer at Healthgrades. “The hospitals that have been recognized as 5-star rated for specific procedures and conditions stand out above the rest for the ongoing dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care to their patients.”

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2016 through 2018 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

Englewood Hospital Earns ‘A’ in Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Posted on by Michael Chananie

National Recognition Distinguishes Hospital for Achievements in Patient Safety

November 7, 2019 — Englewood Hospital today earned an ‘A’ in the Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing its commitment to protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harmful circumstances to patients in their care.

“Patient safety and quality remain our top priorities,” said Jamie Ketas, vice president of quality at Englewood Health. “As a team, we are committed to treating patients using state-of-the-art technology, taking an individualized approach, and providing ongoing care after patients leave the hospital. Receiving an ‘A’ grade from the Leapfrog Group speaks to the dedication of our entire staff to ensuring our patients have the best possible outcomes.”

Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are freely available to the public.

“‘A’ hospitals show us their leadership is protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level—from clinicians, to administrators, to the board of directors—and we congratulate the teams who have worked so hard to earn this ‘A.’”

To see Englewood Hospital’s full grade details, learn how employers can help, and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization, driven by employers and other purchasers of health care, committed to improving healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.

United Hatzalah/Rescue Opens Englewood Chapter

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Englewood Health Ambulance
Englewood Health Ambulance

United Rescue, the American affiliate of the Israeli organization United Hatzalah, (“rescue” in Hebrew), has partnered with Englewood Health and the City of Englewood to become integrated directly with the local 911 system and will run in partnership with the town’s emergency medical services organization, Englewood Health EMS. The United Hatzalah/Rescue model aims to get help to people in distress within three minutes via trained volunteer emergency medical technicians who live or work in the neighborhood where the emergency is reported. United Rescue Englewood’s activities launched with a September 19 inauguration event at Englewood Health. Participants included 25 volunteer trainees who were soon to start 60 hours of instruction; volunteers from the Jersey City chapter; Englewood’s Mayor Michael Wildes; Englewood Health EMS director, Rick Sposa; and Englewood Health’s Vice President for Facilities Management and Emergency Preparedness, Harvey Weber.

Read the article here.

Posted November 2019

Comet Clinical Trial: An Option for Patients with Low-Risk DCIS Available at Englewood Health

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Englewood Health is a clinical trial site for the Comparison of Operative to Monitoring and Endocrine Therapy (COMET) study for low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is the first large Phase III randomized clinical trial in the United States to look at different clinical management strategies for low-risk DCIS.

Chief of breast surgery Violet Merle McIntosh, MD, a site principal investigator for the COMET trial, shares insights about this important study.

What is DCIS?

Dr. McIntosh: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is noninvasive breast cancer, accounting for approximately 20 percent of new breast cancer cases each year. It is a condition in which some of the cells lining the milk ducts undergo a cancerous change, dividing and filling up the ducts. DCIS does not spread beyond the ducts to other parts of the breast or to other parts of the body.

What is low-risk DCIS?

Dr. McIntosh: There are three grades of DCIS: low, intermediate, and high. Generally, low and intermediate grades (Grades I and II) are considered to be “low risk,” with the lowest chance of becoming an invasive cancer or of recurrence. There is increasing scientific evidence that low-risk DCIS grows slowly and, left untreated, would not cause health problems during a woman’s lifetime.

What is the COMET study?

Dr. McIntosh: Currently, women with any grade of DCIS are treated with surgery, with or without radiation. The COMET study is comparing that standard treatment with monitoring, for low-risk DCIS.

How does the study work?

Dr. McIntosh: Study participants, who have been diagnosed with low-risk DCIS, are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

  • Active surveillance: ongoing monitoring with mammograms and physical exam every six months or
  • Surgery, with or without radiation therapy, and an annual mammogram

Participants in both groups may choose to have adjuvant hormone therapy. Patients in active surveillance are closely monitored during the five years of the study, and if they advance to an invasive cancer, receive appropriate treatment.

Who is eligible to participate?

Dr. McIntosh: Women who are newly diagnosed with low-risk (Grade I or II) DCIS are eligible for the COMET trial. Currently, if a woman is diagnosed with DCIS, her treating physician cannot say, “Let’s try active surveillance,” as it is not the standard of care. Therefore, the only way to receive active surveillance at this point is to participate in the trial.

Why is this clinical trial so important for women?

Dr. McIntosh: According to a study published in JAMA Surgery, about 80 percent of women diagnosed with DCIS will not have a future DCIS or invasive breast cancer. The big question is, “Are we overtreating women?” Right now, we don’t know how to identify who is at high risk and who can safely avoid surgery and possibly radiation treatment, with or without hormone treatment. We are hoping to answer these questions with this important study.

What holds patients back from participating in a clinical trial?

Dr. McIntosh: Patients often say, “I don’t want to be a guinea pig.” The reality is that most of the time in these studies, we are comparing reasonable treatments. It is usually a question of whether one treatment is better than the other.

In the COMET trial, researchers want to confirm that active surveillance is effective for most patients.

Englewood Health is currently the only site in Bergen County enrolling patients in the COMET clinical trial.

Posted October 2019

Breast Cancer Services at Englewood Health: What’s New?

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Breast cancer is the Number 1 cancer affecting women, with more than 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center

Accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Health provides a high level of convenience and personalized attention for women in need of breast imaging, diagnostic evaluations, and procedures. With private waiting rooms, a spa-like environment, and minimal waiting times, the center has an in-house team of board-certified radiologists and pathologists whose primary focus is breast disease. All diagnostic tests are conducted and interpreted at one central location at the medical center.

The American College of Radiology recommends that women with an average risk of developing breast cancer begin annual screening mammography at age 40.

At The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnostic Center, all women who have a mammogram are seen by a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, who performs a breast exam and obtains a history. Almost all patients undergoing mammography have a 3D mammogram.

Same-Day Mammogram Results

Patients having screening mammography are offered the option of remaining in the center while their results are reviewed. If additional mammogram views are needed, they are done the same day. If there is a suspicious finding on a mammogram and an ultrasound is needed, patients are offered the option of having that, too, the same day. Many ultrasound-guided biopsies can also be performed during the same visit.

To make an appointment call 201-894-3640 or schedule online.

The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health

The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program, demonstrating high quality of care and commitment to continuous quality improvement. The center diagnoses and treats approximately 1,200 patients each year.

A Team of Breast Cancer Experts

At Englewood Health, our physicians and surgeons reflect the center’s culture of deep scientific knowledge, professional expertise, and collaborative spirit, as they determine the best care for their patients. Our Breast Cancer Disease Management Team of medical oncologists, breast surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and geneticists meets weekly to discuss each new patient case and create an individual plan for each patient.

Also participating in the weekly patient conferences are a patient navigator, a genetics nurse practitioner, a clinical trials coordinator, a social worker, medical residents, and the tumor registrar. At the meeting, each patient’s history, images, and pathology are presented; all aspects of the patient’s medical and social history are considered; and a treatment plan is formulated.

At Englewood Health, we offer:

  • Personalized care
  • Medical oncologists who specialize in breast cancer
  • A team of breast surgeons
  • Advanced radiation therapy
  • Genomic profiling and genetic counseling
  • Clinical trials
  • Support services

Join Us for the 20th Annual Walk for Awareness!

2019 marks a milestone year for Englewood Health Foundation’s Walk for Awareness, with the beloved community fundraiser celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall. Founded by Jill Fader and her late husband and former City of Englewood mayor, Paul Fader, the Walk has inspired—and mobilized—thousands in our community to fundraise in support of The Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center at Englewood Hospital. Funds raised have helped to offset the costs of care for uninsured and underinsured women in our community. And invite your favorite canine companion to tag along for the Susan Lucianna Memorial Dog Walk.

Walk for Awareness and Susan Lucianna Memorial Dog Walk: October 27, 2019

Registration: 11:00 a.m.
Welcome and warm-up: 12:30 p.m.
Walk begins: 1:00 p.m.

For more information and online registration, go to walkforawareness.org.

Allan’s Story – Cancer Care

Posted on by John Williams

 

Blindsided when he was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer, Allan Smith lost hope and thought his active life was over. But his bond with Dr. Steven Brower and words of encouragement from Englewood Health nurses and staff helped Allan believe he could beat his cancer. His advice to other patients walking in his shoes? “No matter how grim it sounds, you have to keep a positive attitude.”

Posted September 30, 2019

High-Risk Care for Expectant Parents Available at Englewood Health

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Being told that your pregnancy is considered “high risk” can be one of the most stressful moments in a woman’s life. Almost immediately, images of every worst-case outcome come to mind, and a sense of dread can descend like a dark cloud.

Getting through a pregnancy with any degree of complication requires that you quell such images as best you can and surround yourself with a steadfast support system. Arming yourself with knowledge about your pregnancy—a valuable tool, both practically and emotionally—is possible only by forging a relationship with a skilled and compassionate medical team.

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are at the forefront of innovation in high-risk pregnancy care. These specialists have completed advanced training on the treatment of high-risk pregnancies—those in which the mother has a chronic health condition, there is an abnormality of the fetus, or unexpected complications arise during pregnancy or childbirth. The specialists work in tandem with your delivering OBGYN to ensure he or she has all the important information they need for you to have a smooth pregnancy.

Nathan Fox, MD
Nathan Fox, MD

One such physician is Nathan Fox, MD, at Englewood Health. “Pregnancies can be classified as high risk for any number of reasons,” says Dr. Fox “You may be expecting twins, you may be of advanced maternal age, you may have pregestational diabetes, or you may have developed preeclampsia during pregnancy.”

Regardless of your particular situation, you can find solace in knowing that there are specialists right here in your own backyard who can work with your care team to help achieve the best possible outcome for your pregnancy.

“High-risk pregnancies can be stressful and scary for both mothers and families,” says Dr. Fox. “My main focus is reassuring everyone and providing care that results in positive outcomes.”

According to Dr. Fox, the field of pregnancy care has exploded in the best possible way—beginning with physicians’ increased ability to detect fetal issues through imaging and blood testing.

“If an issue with the fetus is detected, we are able to monitor the fetus before birth, perform certain procedures if necessary, and craft the best possible birth plan for that individual pregnancy,” Dr. Fox says.

Andrei Rebarber, MD
Andrei Rebarber, MD

Andrei Rebarber, MD, a colleague of Dr. Fox at Englewood Health, recalls that when he was in medical school back in 1989, the field of maternal-fetal medicine was still new, having earned its subspecialty certification in 1977—a time when only about 10 physicians in America were practicing it.

“I was lucky to be able to do a rotation in maternal-fetal medicine at that time, and I saw some amazing cases. One, in particular, stuck with me: a fetal blood transfusion on a baby who was anemic. I remember thinking it miraculous that you could transfuse and save a baby in utero, and I was immediately hooked,” Dr. Rebarber says.

“We recommend that women with chronic health conditions like lupus, diabetes, and chronic hypertension ask their OBGYNs for a referral for a preconception consultation with us, so we can review their medical history, get them on a folic acid regimen, and optimize their health so as to minimize risk during pregnancy,” Dr. Rebarber says.

Women with chronic health conditions may require more frequent appointments with their pregnancy care providers during gestation. Those with diabetes, for example, are at higher risk for structural birth defects in pregnancy and may find that the daily growth of their fetus makes their sugar levels erratic. For this reason, regular appointments to track sugar levels, adjust dosages, and monitor the fetus may be recommended.

At Englewood Health, Dr. Fox and Dr. Rebarber work alongside nutritionists, endocrinologists, genetic counselors, and a team of other specialists to promote the well-being of mothers-to-be with chronic health conditions, and to perform comprehensive testing on all women who are interested in learning more about their pregnancy.

“Today, prenatal testing can be done earlier in gestation than ever before—blood tests can measure hormone levels in the placenta during the first trimester to identify conditions such as Down syndrome. At 10–12 weeks, we can do a procedure called chorionic villus sampling to detect birth defects and a wide array of genetic diseases that are age dependent. We also have enhanced genetic analysis that detects genetic syndromes that are not age dependent,” says Dr. Rebarber.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommends that all women be offered the option of noninvasive testing (blood tests and ultrasounds), as well as the option of invasive testing (chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis), during pregnancy—all of which can be done at Englewood Health.

“We prioritize building relationships and connecting with our patients,” says Dr. Fox. “We find that when our patients have good reason to trust us, they are calmer throughout the whole pregnancy. We are there both to help improve outcomes for women and their babies, and also to support them if and when complications arise.”

Dr. Fox emphasizes that maternal-fetal medicine specialists are also the experts in ultrasound for all pregnancies, both high- and low-risk. So all mothers-to-be can take comfort in knowing they will likely interact with these specialists as familiar faces during their pregnancies, even if only for routine ultrasounds.

Whether you’re a woman who knows her risk factors and wants to get pregnant, an otherwise healthy woman who is having an unexpectedly complicated pregnancy, or a woman who is just interested in learning more about her pregnancy, a consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist is a great way to prepare yourself with the information you need to make the best choices for yourself and your pregnancy.

Englewood Hospital Achieves Healthgrades 2019 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award™ Four Years in a Row

Posted on by Michael Chananie

September 23, 2019 — Englewood Hospital has announced it has earned the Healthgrades 2019 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award™, marking its fourth consecutive year as a recipient. This achievement recognizes Englewood Hospital for exceptional clinical outcomes—among the top 10 percent of hospitals evaluated by Healthgrades for obstetrics and gynecology—while caring for women during labor and immediately after delivery of their newborn, as well as women undergoing gynecologic procedures.

“Achieving the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award over the past four years reflects the dedication of our clinical staff to provide the highest quality, personalized care for women before and throughout the labor and delivery experience,” says Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health.

The Family Birth Place at Englewood Health features award-winning maternity care services with the experience of a luxury hotel. Board-certified obstetricians and nurses work with expectant mothers to create individualized care plans.

“The Healthgrades 2019 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award recognizes hospitals that are dedicated to providing quality care for expectant mothers and women who will undergo gynecologic procedures,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer at Healthgrades. “Consumers who do their homework by researching the quality of their local hospitals will make more informed healthcare decisions, and it could make a difference in terms of clinical outcomes.”

Healthgrades analyzed patient outcomes data for all patients (all-payer data) provided by 15 individual states between 2015 through 2017. During this time, if all hospitals in the analysis performed similarly to those that received the Healthgrades 2019 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award, complications could have potentially been avoided for 119,203 patients1.

Additionally, from 2015 through 2017, patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award had, on average, a 33.4% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive the Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award[1].

In addition to earning the Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence award four years in a row, Englewood Hospital has received the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and has been recognized as a 5-star recipient for Vaginal Delivery and C-Section Delivery.

[1] Statistics are based on Healthgrades’ analysis of all-payer data for years 2015 through 2017 and represent 3-year estimates for patients in 15 states for which all-payer data was made available.

Ask the Doctor: Dr. Thomas Bernik

Posted on by Michael Chananie

Doctors use the term “vascular system” to refer to the many roadways of arteries and veins that carry blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body. When the flow through these vessels is interrupted, the body cannot function properly.

If you have been diagnosed with a vascular malfunction, such as hardening of the arteries, it may be time to consult with a vascular surgeon. Englewood Health has distinguished itself as a leader in the field of vascular surgery; in fact, Healthgrades® recently named the hospital one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for vascular surgery. We recently sat down with Thomas Bernik, MD, chief of vascular surgery at Englewood Health and part of the Englewood Health Physician Network, to learn more.

What are the common vascular conditions you see?

Dr. Bernik: At Englewood Health we treat the full range of vascular conditions and disorders, including diseases affecting the arteries and veins. The most common arterial disease we treat is peripheral artery disease, which affects the legs and can lead to pain and an inability to walk or stand. We also treat abdominal and thoracic aneurysms (bulges in the blood vessel wall) and abdominal and thoracic dissections (tears in the lining of the blood vessel wall) as well as carotid artery disease, and kidney and intestinal artery disease. Venous conditions we see include deep vein thrombosis, spider and varicose veins, venous insufficiency and ulcers, and pelvic vein disease. We also specialize in the treatment of pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that occurs in the lungs.

What treatments do vascular surgeons offer?

Dr. Bernik: Our surgeons offer the latest treatments for even the most complex conditions, from abdominal aneurysms to spider veins, to stubborn wounds that won’t heal. In the operating room we use minimally invasive techniques and, in many cases, catheter-based procedures, resulting in shorter hospital stays, less pain, and faster recovery time for patients. Our surgeons are also experts in traditional open surgery, if needed. In all cases, we are committed to bloodless surgery, and our program is known around the world for its excellent results after surgery. Our physician assistants and nurse practitioners are specially trained to provide expert post-operative and follow-up care for our patients.

What’s new in vascular treatment?

Dr. Bernik: Among the new vascular surgery services we offer is a treatment called transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). Englewood is one of the first hospitals in the region to offer TCAR, a minimally invasive procedure in which the blocked carotid artery is accessed directly through a small incision in the neck. A special catheter is inserted to temporarily divert blood flow away from the brain while the stent is placed. Blood is filtered during the rerouting step, capturing any tiny pieces of plaque that might break free during the procedure, and then returned to the body. Once the stent is placed, minimizing the risk of future stroke, the catheter is removed, and blood flow in the carotid artery returns to its normal direction. TCAR is particularly well suited for patients who are at high risk of complications from conventional carotid surgery due to age, anatomy, or other medical conditions. This safer approach can lead to better outcomes and faster recovery for such patients. In addition, there has been development in the treatment of complex aneurysms involving kidney and intestinal blood vessels. We are now able to selectively revascularize and preserve all blood vessels while repairing these aneurysms, using a minimally invasive approach through punctures in the arms and groin, requiring only an overnight stay.

Posted September 2019

Englewood Hospital Achieves Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award™, Named 5-Star Recipient for Vaginal and C-Section Delivery Four Years in a Row

Posted on by Michael Chananie

September 17, 2019 — For the fourth consecutive year, Englewood Hospital has received the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award—among the top 10 percent of hospitals evaluated by Healthgrades for clinical excellence in labor and delivery—and has been recognized as a 5-star recipient for Vaginal Delivery and C-Section Delivery by Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

These distinctions place Englewood Hospital in the top 10 percent of all hospitals evaluated for the exceptional care of mothers during and after labor and delivery, and indicate that Englewood Hospital’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected for vaginal delivery and C-section delivery care.

“Receiving the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and the 5-star rating for Vaginal and C-section Delivery in 2019 and over the past four years speaks to our team’s ongoing commitment to prioritize patient safety and quality throughout the labor and delivery process,” says Kathleen Kaminsky, MS, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Englewood Health. “At Englewood Health, we aim to meet and exceed families’ expectations to provide the best possible birthing experience.”

The Family Birth Place at Englewood Health features award-winning maternity care services with the experience of a luxury hotel. Board-certified obstetricians and nurses work with expectant mothers to create individualized care plans.

“The birth of a child is one of life’s most significant milestones. Expectant parents should research and select a hospital with the highest clinical outcomes for the delivery of their baby,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer, Healthgrades. “As healthcare trends continue to improve and evolve, patients who select a hospital that is a 5-star recipient can feel confident in their decision when it comes to women’s care.”

To help consumers evaluate and compare hospital performance, Healthgrades analyzed all-payer state data for 15 states, from 2015 through 2017. Healthgrades found that the variation in hospital performance makes a significant difference in terms of clinical outcomes, and that there is a significant variation in hospital quality between those that have received 5-stars and those that have not. For example:

  • From 2015 to 2017, if all hospitals included in the analysis performed similarly to those that received the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award, complications could have potentially been avoided for 105,690 patients1.
  • From 2015 through 2017, patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award had, on average, a 2% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive the award[1].
  • From 2015 through 2017, patients having a C-Section Delivery in hospitals rated 5-stars have, on average, a 57-percent lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals rated 1-star1.

In addition to earning the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and the 5-star rating for Vaginal Delivery and C-section Delivery four years in a row, Englewood Hospital has received the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award for four consecutive years.

[1]  Statistics are based on Healthgrades’ analysis of all-payer data for years 2015 through 2017 and represent 3-year estimates for patients in 15 states for which all-payer data was made available.