9 MI hospitals are Healthgrades' best

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Nine Michigan hospitals are among Healthgrades  America's 100 Best Hospitals in 2013.

The distinction places the facilities among the top 2% of hospitals in the nation for overall clinical excellence, according to a news release.

The Michigan hospitals on the list --

-- Allegiance Health in Jackson

-- Beaumont Hospital - Troy in Troy

-- Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo

-- Holland Hospital in Holland

-- Munson Medical Center in Traverse City

-- Providence Hospital in Southfield

-- Saint Mary's Mercy Hospital in Livonia

-- Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, including Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids

Healthgrades is the leading online resource that helps consumers search, evaluate, compare and connect with physicians and hospitals. Its research determines the nation's best-performing hospitals based on an evaluation of objective measures of clinical quality at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

"This distinction provides a measure of confidence for consumers. Hospitals earn this distinction by providing better than expected outcomes across a broad spectrum of conditions and procedures over an extended period of time," said Evan Marks, Healthgrades EVP Informatics and Strategy. "Their exceptional performance reflects their dedicated approach to delivering superior quality of care for patients."
 
Unlike other quality studies, Healthgrades evaluates hospitals solely on clinical outcomes analyzing data from Medicare for risk-adjusted mortality and in-hospital complications. This takes into account differing levels of severity of patient illness at different hospitals and allows for hospitals to be compared equally. No hospital can opt-in or opt-out of being evaluated, and no hospital pays to be evaluated.

The 2013 study shows significant variation in hospital quality across America. While many hospitals have specific areas of expertise and high-quality outcomes, America's 100 Best Hospitals exhibit comprehensive high-quality care during a long period of time. That includes measurably lower mortality and complication rates across 27 common conditions and procedures for a minimum of four consecutive years.

Healthgrades posts hospital performance on its website in the form of awards achievements and 1-star, 3-star or 5-star ratings.

------

Online:

For more information about Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals or to download a copy of the report or see specific ratings go here -- healthgrades.com.