Middleburg Heights, OH (Aug. 2, 2013) – On Wednesday, July 31, 2013, Southwest General earned the highest overall
rating in
Consumer Reports’ evaluation of how patients fare during their hospital stay for surgery.
Southwest General was one of only two Northeast Ohio hospitals to receive
top marks.
The
Consumer Reports’ ratings combined results of 27 categories of scheduled surgeries into an
overall surgery rating, and also developed individual ratings for five
procedures—back surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, angioplasty
and carotid artery surgery.
“The
Consumer Reports’ rating further solidifies that as a community hospital Southwest General
is providing excellent quality surgical services,” said Thomas A.
Selden, president and chief executive officer, Southwest General. “Our
patients should feel confident knowing that we can provide the same, if
not better, quality of surgical care in a community setting than you would
find anywhere in Northeast Ohio.”
The surgery ratings were based on an analysis of billing claims that hospitals
submitted to Medicare for patients 65 and older from 2009 to 2011, and
covered 2,463 U.S. hospitals. The ratings were based on the percentage
of a hospital’s Medicare patients who died in the hospital or stayed
longer than expected for their procedure. Research shows that increased
mortality and longer hospital stays correlate with higher surgical complications.
In addition to the hospital’s high marks for surgical services overall,
Southwest General received the highest rating for knee replacement surgery.
Southwest General has been recognized for the hospital’s award-winning
Orthopedic Joint Center, which offers patients shorter hospital stays
and more rapid recovery for knee and hip replacement surgery.
“Surgery can be scary. But we are fortunate here at Southwest General
that we can provide our community members with an exceptional team of
skilled physicians and nurses dedicated to their respective fields. The
Consumer Reports’ ratings can give patients the information they need to make an informed
decision on where to have surgery. And knock fear down a notch,”
said Selden.
VisitConsumer Reports’ rating, to view the complete story.
For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Caroline Fienga,
media specialist, at 440-816-6723 or
cfienga@swgeneral.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caroline Fienga
Media Specialist
440-816-6723 (office)
216-299-7727 (cell)
cfienga@swgeneral.com