National Quality Report Ranks Heart Care at Regions Hospital Among Best in the Twin Cities

A new report from The Joint Commission shows that out of 16 major hospitals in the Twin Cities, patients suffering heart attacks and heart failure receive among the highest quality care at Regions Hospital. The report, called "Improving America's Hospitals: a Report on Quality and Safety," analyzes performance data from more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide that are accredited by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit organization that sets the standards by which health care quality is measured in America and around the world.

"This report lets consumers know which hospitals are best at providing the treatment shown by scientific evidence to be most effective," said Beth Heinz, Senior Director, Quality at Regions Hospital. "Receiving proven medications and procedures in a timely manner can be a matter of life or death for patients," she added.

Hospitals reported how many patients received 15 individual quality measures for the treatment of heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia from 2002 through 2005. Regions provides four of The Joint Commission-recommended evidence-based heart failure treatments, such as a test to evaluate heart function, approximately 90 percent of the time compared to the national rate of 76 percent. For heart attack care, Regions Hospital provides eight evidence-based heart attack treatments, such as medications to prevent heart failure, nearly 100 percent of the time compared to the national average of 90 percent. The hospital report can be viewed at www.jointcommissionreport.org/ .

Reducing infections

In its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care provided, Regions has also reduced infectious risk to patients by focusing on evidence-based practices. In 2006, Regions reported a 52 percent reduction in the number of cases of catheter-related bloodstream infections; a 30 percent reduction in the number of cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia and a 50 percent reduction in the number of surgical-site infections.

About Regions Hospital

Regions Hospital ( www.regionshospital.com ) is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care.

Contact: Kelli Trask 651-254-4725 Pager: 651-629-0411 kelli.k.trask@healthpartners.com