Thomson Reuters today released an unprecedented study identifying the top 10 U.S. health systems based on their hospitals' clinical performance. They are:
- Advocate Health Care -- Oak Brook, IL
- Catholic Healthcare Partners -- Cincinnati, OH
- Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati -- Cincinnati, OH
- HealthEast Care System -- Saint Paul, MN
- Henry Ford Health System -- Detroit, MI
- Kettering Health Network -- Dayton, OH
- OhioHealth-- Columbus, OH
- Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. -- Victorville, CA
- Trinity Health -- Novi, MI
- University Hospitals Health System -- Cleveland, OH
Researchers from the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals program analyzed the quality and efficiency of 252 health systems and found statistically significant differences between top and bottom performers in several key areas. Compared with the poorest performers, the best-performing quintile had 25 percent lower mortality, 19 percent fewer medical complications, and 13 percent fewer patient safety incidents - even though their patients were sicker and their average hospital stays were significantly shorter.
"This wide range in performance levels raises potent questions about the mission of many health systems and their effectiveness in achieving goals," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters. "The top 10 include for-profit and not-for-profit health systems, religious and secular organizations, and facilities that differ in size, ownership structure, and geographic distribution of member hospitals. This suggests that every type of health system has the potential to drive higher quality -- and health systems could become a powerful force for rapid improvement in hospital performance as the industry is restructured."
This study, Chenoweth notes, sets national benchmarks for health system quality and efficiency and extends transparency regarding the performance of healthcare organizations from hospitals to health systems.