Eighteen Kentucky hospitals have been included on the annual list of hospitals that have excelled at adhering to basic procedures for treating common illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes. The Joint Commission, the nation’s major hospital accreditation board, has released this year's list which recognizes 620 hospitals -- only 18 percent of those it accredits -- as “top performers” for following recommended protocols at least 95 percent of the time.According to Kaiser Health News, the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit devoted to patient safety, aided in the rankings process, as did Consumers Reports. The Commission has its own metrics. It's worth noting that as of next month Medicare will start using hospital quality rankings on its Hospital Compare website to set reimbursements.
Among the 18 hospitals singled out in Kentucky are Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Robley Rex Medical Center in Louisville, Cumberland Hall Hospital in Hopkinsville, specifically for its psychiatric inpatient services, and Logan Memorial in Russellville for its pneumonia care. Read more)
To see the list of the 620 hospitals rated by the Commission, by state, go here.
