Study Awards Salem Hospital Five-Star Rating

Study finds patient outcomes at Salem Hospital among nation's best for coronary bypass surgery, coronary interventional procedures and treatment of heart attack.

(SALEM, Ore.) - According to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, Salem Hospital is five-star rated for cardiac, orthopedic and gastrointestinal services for 2008.

The study, the largest of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation's 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

GI Surgery: 2008 Recipient of the HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award™, Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for GI surgery, Five-Star Rated for GI surgery, Five-Star rated for cholecystectomy.

Cardiac: 2007 Recipient of the HealthGrades Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award ™, Five-Star rated for coronary bypass surgery (2007, 2008), Five-Star rated for coronary interventional procedures, Five-Star rated for treatment of heart attack.

Orthopedics: Five-Star rated for total-hip replacement, Five-Star rated for back and neck surgery (except spinal fusion), Five-Star rated for spinal surgery. (Note: Spinal surgery is performed by neurosurgeons.)

"When people need healthcare, they want to know that they will receive quality care. This HealthGrades recognition reaffirms that our patients receive top-quality care at Salem Hospital," says Norm Gruber, president and CEO of Salem Hospital.

"We are very proud of the physicians, nurses, technicians, and all the many employees who work diligently to provide quality care every day, and who made this recognition possible."

Patients admitted to the nation's top-performing hospitals, five-star hospitals like Salem Hospital, have, on average, a 71 percent lower chance of dying than those treated at one-star hospitals across 18 procedures and conditions analyzed, according to the study. HealthGrades is the nation's leading independent ratings company.

"Our research shows that while the overall quality of hospital care in America is improving, the gap between the best-performing hospitals and the worst persists," said Dr. Samantha Collier, HealthGrades' chief medical officer and author of the study. "This persistent gap makes it imperative that anyone planning to be admitted to a hospital do their homework and seek out highly rated facilities."

The Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study identifies key trends in the quality of care provided by approximately 5,000 hospitals nationwide. HealthGrades researchers analyzed Medicare discharges from virtually every U.S. hospital between 2004 and 2006. Risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates were calculated and hospitals were assigned a 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected), or 5-star (best) quality rating for 28 diagnoses and procedures from heart failure to hip replacement to pneumonia.

• Oregon is one of the top fives states nationwide showing the most improvement in coronary interventional procedures.

• Gaps persist between the "best" and the "worst" hospitals across all procedures and conditions studied. Five-star rated hospitals, such as Salem Hospital had statistically significantly lower risk-adjusted mortality across all three years studied.

• Across all procedures and conditions studied, there was an approximate 71 percent lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital.

• Across all procedures and conditions studied, there was an approximate 52 percent lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to the U.S. hospital average. The 2008 HealthGrades ratings for all hospitals nationwide are available, free of charge, on the organization's award-winning consumer Web site, located at healthgrades.com.

More than three million individuals and employees of some of the nation's largest employers and health plans visit HealthGrades each month to access quality information about hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. HealthGrades also provides consumers and payers with detailed assessments of hospitals' patient-safety outcomes, based on indicators developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

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Tina Thompson November 4, 2009 9:33 am (Pacific time)

Not sure who took the poll on Salem Hospital but they have got to be the worst hospital around. I have never met or talked to one person that had a good experience with those people.

Jefferson December 26, 2007 6:42 pm (Pacific time)

You know Henry, I believe at one time years ago you managed some of our family property (Apartment complexes I let some property management outfits run until we got out of that business because of big government)? Checking old records next month when I get to them. If this is true, then I have discovered your occupational zenith!

Henry Ruark December 26, 2007 3:27 pm (Pacific time)

Sue et al: Again, Sue, "right on"... United Nations declaration so stating won 48-0 years ago. No reference whatsoever to how-treated in each nation, as not only impossible to surveil but also opens door to which nation is aggressor and empire builder at heavy costs to all other nations. Can you imagine ER with huge charts, setting forth who gets blood and who is refused that life-saving action ? OR surgeon determining if rapid clear/cut is okay, while appendix is bursting ?? But that's neocon philosophy demonstrated again: always insistent on "me first, last and all the time".

Sue December 26, 2007 11:12 am (Pacific time)

Neal: How do you know they are illegal? And yes, Bill Gates probably would get better and faster treatment. However, I have to say that you deserve to be treated just as fast and just as well as Bill Gates. That is my point. We should treat people based on their medical need and nothing else.

Jefferson December 26, 2007 10:38 am (Pacific time)

Well Neal, even a broken clock is right every so often. Illegals should be provided the same rights as their mother countries provide Americans...

Henry Ruark December 24, 2007 7:02 am (Pacific time)

Neal: Agree completely you or others should not have to suffer obvious discomforts in that situation. Problem is really the hospital's and management is at fault if it is permitted. Families With whom I had contact (not recently) had no way of acting, and cultural differences further obliterated understandings without due careful remediation...again, hospital problem forced by fact of over-border invasion we have allowed in past by incredible neglect of our inevitable, unavoidable citizen responsibilities, as you continue to point out strongly on many issues. Perhaps this dialog should go to those needing motivation at hospital, with both solid support and clear illumination of ongoing problems...that is what dialog should accomplish.

Neal Feldman December 24, 2007 12:23 am (Pacific time)

Henry - I'm sorry but the kids should stay home. Get a friend or neighbor or hire a sitter. But my issue is not that they bring their entire brood along but that the brood is not kept under control (a problem unfortunately not limited to illegals and certainly not limited to hospitals). Between the screeching and howling of ignored infants that is enough to make one's teeth grate away but the older kids treating everywhere, especially ER waiting rooms, as a playground is unacceptable. If I am at the ER I am either in incredible pain or other discomfort or am with someone who is... I am not there to babysit your unruly brats. Sorry. sue whines they are human. I suggest they try and act like civilized humans at least. Apparently in this 'enlightened age' this is too much for me to expect. How 'unreasonable' of me. Ah well...

Neal Feldman December 24, 2007 12:17 am (Pacific time)

Sue - I am sure that you could be more ridiculous but you would have to really work hard to manage it. I am not a 'hater'... it would appear that applies to you, dear. I merely state that those here illegally should feel lucky they are allowed to be seen at all. If you are here illegally you should expect no better treatment, IMHO, than an escapee from prison. And if you do not think there are income tests I want you to see me and Bill Gates go to the hospital for the same thing and see how fast each is waited on. I will wait hours, his room will be ready before he even leaves his house. As for your pathetically feeble attempt at race and religion baiting it I risk dignifying it too much by pointing out that it is beneath contempt. And just because on is 'human' does not excuse everything. It does not excuse the criminality of illegals nor does it excuse your own apparent stupidity on this issue. Ah well...

Henry Ruark December 23, 2007 12:53 pm (Pacific time)

Sue et al: Chaos conquered more rapidly than expected; here's that depression-dispelling book: Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders; Dr. Aaron Beck;1976; ISBN 0-8236-0990-1 Later refs. to current research should be found under same ISBN; Beck's was first to comprehensively report on his version of therapy. We did radio interview, but I do not have tape.

Henry Ruark December 23, 2007 12:39 pm (Pacific time)

Sue, Neal et al: Own experience must shape response here, as always. Re wait-sequence, I noted in at least three ambulance trips multiple close attention by doctors, nurses, medics to make sure urgency won rapid response. That seems sensible to me, familiar from long plans sessions with HFMA experts re details of hospital management plans, since it has heavy impacts on costs. Re family-there, where else can they go ? Usually kids are already at risk anyhow due to low-pay and time-demands in families fleeing absolute life denial in homelands. Re humans are humans, Sue, you are right on, and world so recognizes via UN Declaration cited elsewhere since its main principles apply to torture in all its loathsome aspects. Of course Neal earns both understanding and sympathy on basis of his own situation, with which I can empathize from Chicago long-term fight vs depression, won only when I happened to interview noted expert, was gifted with his book, and found my own answers due to his deep knowledge. Will cite book and ISBN when can unearth them here, from office in chaos at moment --more than usual, that is !!!

Sue December 22, 2007 1:58 pm (Pacific time)

Neal: How about an income or maybe a race test. Maybe if a Christian goes to a Jewish hospital, they should be treated differently. Humans are humans no matter where they come from or what they believe or what they look like. You and other haters should fear that maybe your kind will be the next group to be hated. Humans deserve to be treated. What you say is ridiculous.

Neal Feldman December 21, 2007 2:01 pm (Pacific time)

Henry - I have only been admitted to SH once and only for a few hours... my usual experience is regular IV infusions at SHAPES at the hospital every 6 weeks for one of my medications (Remicade). But I have had to take an ambulance to the ER a few times too due to getting hit by cars or kidney stones etc. And the care is always great but sometimes the waiting in the outer room sucks. No, I do not want illegals dying in the streets but I would love to see those of us here legally and going to the ER for things other than common ssues like the sniffles etc be treated to a greater percentage of the effort. Like 5 intake people one for the illegals and 4 for the rest of us... and the illegal with the sniffles goes to the bottom of the list not in front of a legal person who is more in need of the services. It would also help the public perception if the illegals didn't bring their entire extended families to the ER expecting us sick and inured legal folks to provide them with free day care for their broods (of 5-10 kids each it seems). I'm not asking for them to be kept at the door but the hospital should have the policy, unless it is a sucking chest wound or something like that, of "Legals First". Is that so much to ask? Really? Ah well...

Henry Ruark December 21, 2007 7:01 am (Pacific time)

Despite "anons" always willing to speak up from behind tree somewheres, on my own experiences over several years, for both emergency and regular treatment, Salem Hospital has done extremely well. I'm not at all surprised at their national ratings, but at the extreme statements made from behind that tree. Re treatment of illegals, where else, how else are they to go and do ? Would anons prefer to find suffering bodies on street corner ? Or is it they simply so desensitized by own trauma they cannot relate to others ? Facts are facts, and this national report is not simply so much PR, but professional feedback from qualified persons informing likely participants in this area. Disclosure: Longtime Chicago consulting client of mine was Hospital Financial Management Association, for whom we did series of studies, finally resulting in change of name to Healthcare FMA...due to trends now highly evident at Salem Hospital (purchaser of copies of early studies mentioned.)

Meatmarket December 21, 2007 1:03 am (Pacific time)

It's still a chop-shop regardless...

just me December 21, 2007 1:03 am (Pacific time)

Wow, but what about the trauma unit? Well, that's another story. I don't want to go there if I get in an accident. But hey, I'm sure the illegals are not complaining about their treatment. Every day this ER is full of them. You can be lucky if you get out of there within 5 hours. And the treatment from the ER nurses is suck. Unless you're off course an illegal. They sure kiss their butts. Thanks Oregon Government for supporting these criminals.

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