The study of quality at the nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals places Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in the top five percent for overall clinical quality. According to the HealthGrades study, Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence had mortality rates that were, on average, 27 percent lower than other hospitals, and major complication rates that were eight percent lower.

For seven years now, HealthGrades has conducted the most comprehensive studies of hospital quality in America, producing ratings for every non-federal hospital. Hospitals that receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence are those hospitals that excel across the 26 procedures and diagnoses rated.

We are extremely proud of our medical staff and entire clinical team for this designation," says Jeffrey Brickman, FACHE, System Senior Vice President & CEO for the Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. "This could not have come at a better time with our new 199 private patient room bed tower slated to open in March, 2009. The tower design is unique in that we are a partner in the Pebble Project, a national initiative to improve patient outcomes through thoughtful design of the care environment. We knew the investment we made in the master facility project, technology and staff would improve the quality of care for our patients and the HealthGrades award provides validation of our decision. It’s important for the community to know that there is a difference in quality of care and we want to be on the leading edge of delivering excellence.”

The study also shows that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ are improving at a greater rate in more procedures and diagnoses than all other hospitals, lowering risk-adjusted mortality rates over the years 2005, 2006, 2007 by an average of 18%.

“Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence comprise an unparalleled group of hospitals that excel across the board, not just in one or two specialties, and they should be commended for their relentless commitment to exceptional patient care. Patients should expect and demand the same level of care at all hospitals,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades senior physician consultant, and an author of the study.

For its study, HealthGrades analyzed almost 41 million Medicare hospitalization records that cover the latest three-year period, from 2005 to 2007. Because the hospitalization records come from the federal government, no hospital can opt in or out of HealthGrades' rating process. The analysis is risk-adjusted to account for differences in patient populations between hospitals.

HealthGrades found that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ outperformed all other hospitals across the procedures and diagnoses studied. HealthGrades estimates that 152,666 lives could have been saved and 11,772 complications could have been avoided over the three years studied if all Medicare patients were treated at Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence.

Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is one of only 15 hospitals in Illinois to receive the Distinguished Hospital Award-Clinical Excellence Award for 2008 & 2009.

Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center provides many advanced health care services typically found in a university hospital setting. Through a partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is the only Medical Center in Will County to perform intra-cranial stroke and neurosurgical procedures for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries as well as brain tumors. The Family Birthing Suites, a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with extended capabilities, Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit provide important healthcare services to women and children throughout the community. State-of-the-art technology, including the DaVinci for prostate cancer and hysterectomies, the Biplane for the treatment of stroke and cerebral aneurysms and the Trilogy to treat cancer, are just a few examples of the newest technology at the Medical Center, and a testament to our commitment to bring healthcare closer to home.

For more information on services provided by Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, visit www.provena.org/stjoes.

Learn more about Provena Health's Commitment to Quality.