PeaceHealth Ranked as One of America’s Top Healthcare Systems
Research published in the June 2008 edition of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety ranks PeaceHealth as one of the top five quality of care healthcare systems in the country and the leading system in the West.

The study reviewed hospital quality data in four clinical areas, currently reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The hospital systems included in the review had six or more acute care hospitals and combined included 1,510 hospitals across the U.S. The study looked at 19 quality measures for pneumonia, surgical infection prevention, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and congestive heart failure.

PeaceHealth was ranked fourth nationally for quality of care in the study, and was the top-ranked health system in the West.

The study, led by researchers Steve Hines, PhD, Principal at The Lewin Group, and Maulik Joshi, President and CEO of the Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement, is the first to measure quality at the hospital system level and to review how “system characteristics relate to performance.”

The researchers also noted: “Systems vary greatly in terms of quality of care in each of the four clinical areas, with for-profit and more decentralized systems appreciably lower in quality of care.”

While the report suggests there is concern about large health systems with low performance levels, it recommends recognition of those systems such as PeaceHealth that are able to maintain high levels of performance in multiple clinical areas.

“This study is reaffirming of PeaceHealth’s Vision, which is to serve patients with safe, evidence-based, compassionate care: every touch, every time,” said Alan Yordy, PeaceHealth’s president and chief mission officer. “While we’re pleased with the progress of our safety and quality work at PeaceHealth – and for data-driven recognition from trusted healthcare researchers — we know we must always improve the care we deliver to every patient we serve. We remain fully committed to quality and safety measures to help chart a course toward further protecting our patients from unnecessary infections and ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.

PeaceHealth directly serves the healthcare needs of Pacific Northwest communities through Oregon Medical Laboratories, the PeaceHealth Medical Group and the following medical centers and hospitals:

Oregon

Sacred Heart Medical Center (Eugene)
Cottage Grove Community Hospital
Peace Harbor Hospital (Florence)
 
Washington
St. Joseph Hospital (Bellingham)
St. John Medical Center (Longview)
 
Alaska
Ketchikan General Hospital

PeaceHealth is a Bellevue, WA-based not-for-profit healthcare system with hospitals and medical centers in Alaska, Washington and Oregon that serve more than 57,000 inpatient admissions annually in both rural and urban settings. Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PeaceHealth has provided exceptional medicine and compassionate care to Pacific Northwest communities for more than a century. PeaceHealth annually receives national recognition for innovations in patient-centered care, patient safety and healthcare technology. PeaceHealth is frequently named as one of the region’s best employers. For more information, visit www.peacehealth.org.

 

PeaceHealth Laboratories