Newberry Hospital Scores A “Three-Peat” As Healthgrades® Names Its Joint Replacement Program Among Top Ten Percent In Nation
October 23, 2014
NEWBERRY, SC – At a time when bigger is perceived as better, Newberry Hospital has proven once again that when it comes to exceptional patient care and quality outcomes, size doesn’t matter.
For the third year in a row, Healthgrades®, the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital, has named Newberry Hospital among the top ten percent in the nation for joint replacement surgery (2013-2015). Additionally, Healthgrades has presented Newberry Hospital with its Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ for the third straight year.
Each year, the Denver-based company evaluates how nearly 5,000 acute care hospitals nationwide perform on risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for 33 of the most common conditions treated and procedures performed, including joint replacement surgery. According to its recently released American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2015: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which analyzed Medicare patient data from 2011-2013 along with statistical models, Newberry Hospital outperformed 90 percent of the hospitals in the country for joint replacement. It also received “Five Stars” for total knee replacement surgery and hip fracture treatment based on low patient complication rates.
Columbia resident Ginger Riddle agrees with Healthgrades’ assessment of Newberry Hospital. Two years ago she learned she had to have both of her hip joints replaced due to advanced osteoarthritis. After researching her options in Columbia, she chose to travel to Newberry Hospital for her two surgeries.
“Newberry Hospital offered the most innovative hip replacement surgeries,” explained Riddle. “I met with the surgeons and the hospital and had complete confidence in them. My recovery time after both surgeries was phenomenal. I am back to dancing again and walking my dog without a problem.”
Since earning the original top ten status from Healthgrades in 2012, Newberry Hospital and its joint replacement partner Palmetto Bone & Joint have attracted patients from across the state who need hip and knee replacements. Newberry Hospital interim CEO Craig Cudworth said patients are well served to do their homework before choosing their physician and hospital regardless of the procedure.
“People should be informed consumers of healthcare services. Independent organizations like Healthgrades are good sources of information,” said Cudworth. “We encourage people to talk to our joint replacement team and to Palmetto Bone & Joint before choosing where to have surgery. Your decision can have an impact on how well you do with surgery and recovery.”
Hospital outcomes and complication rates are important in the eyes of consumers making choices about their healthcare. According to research conducted by Harris Interactive for American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, 90 percent of Americans in 27 top designated market areas agree they would be more likely to choose—or not choose—a hospital if they could learn ahead of time their chances of complications for a certain procedure.
Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of the analysis, and no hospital pays to be measured.Healthgrades risk adjusts for patient demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors, thereby taking into account how sick patients are upon admission.
The Healthgrades “three-peat” recognition and Joint Replacement Excellence Award join other honors bestowed on Newberry Hospital. Last year, the hospital earned national certification for its joint replacement program from The Joint Commission, becoming the only hospital in South Carolina’s Midlands with this distinction. Newberry Hospital is also an Orthopedic Center of Excellence.
About Newberry County Memorial Hospital
Located in Newberry, S.C., Newberry County Memorial Hospital provides exceptional healthcare and wellness services to the citizens of Newberry County and across the Midlands. The hospital’s services include advanced diagnostics, emergency room, general surgery, labor and delivery, orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation services (adults and children), urology, wellness, wound care and hyperbaric medicine, and women’s services. The hospital is ranked in the top ten percent nationally for quality patient care by CMS, is five-star rated by Healthgrades® for its Joint Commission-certified joint replacement program, and earned the 2012 Best Overall Performance and 2012 Leadership in Quality Awards from Quorum Health Resources. Learn more at NewberryHospital.org.
