BCHS's Orthopedic Outcomes Recognized in National Study

Award is based on study, which finds patients treated at 5-star hospitals are 80% less likely to experience a major complication

Battle Creek Health System is 5-star rated for Total Knee and Joint Replacements for the third consecutive year, according to a new study released by HealthGrades, the leading independent health care ratings organization. The HealthGrades study evaluates objective patient outcomes in the nation's 5,000 hospitals.

"We're extremely pleased to again be recognized with outstanding HealthGrades quality ratings, which validate our commitment to clinical excellence," says Denise Brooks-Williams, president and CEO of Battle Creek Health System. "Top ratings from an independent, objective national source demonstrate the exceptional care that our physicians, nurses, and staff deliver to the patients and families in our community every day."

"We created this orthopaedic center to help patients who were not only suffering from knee and hip pain, but also losing mobility in your every-day lives," adds Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell, vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at BCHS. "Since opening, we have provided hip/knee procedures for nearly 800 patients with outstanding results. The ORC is in the top 4 for orthopaedic surgery in our part of the state with better than 95% patient satisfaction."

The HealthGrades study, the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes in nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records from 5,000 hospitals over the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Among the findings related to in-hospital complications in this year's study are:
* Across all procedures in which complications were studied, there was a 79.69% lower chance of experiencing one or more in-hospital complications in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital.
* Across all procedures studied, there was a 61.22% lower chance of experiencing one or more in-hospital complications in a 5-star rated hospital compared to the U.S. hospital average.
* If all hospitals performed at the level of a 5-star rated hospital, 110,687 orthopedic in-hospital complications may have been avoided among Medicare patients over the three years studied.

HealthGrades' hospital ratings and awards reflect the track record of patient outcomes at hospitals in the form of mortality and complication rates. HealthGrades rates hospitals independently based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of being rated, and no hospital pays to be rated.

HealthGrades issues star ratings that reflect the mortality and complication rates for various categories of care. Hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have mortality or complication rates that are below the national average, to a statistically significant degree. A 3-star rating means the hospital performs as expected. One-star ratings indicate the hospital's mortality or complication rates in that procedure or treatment are statistically higher than average. Because the risk profiles of patient populations at hospitals are not alike, HealthGrades risk-adjusts the data to allow for apples-to-apples comparisons.

The new 2010 HealthGrades hospital ratings are posted at www.healthgrades.com.

Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission. Battle Creek Health System, a member of the Mercy Cancer Network, is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at wwww.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.

About the Battle Creek Health System Orthopaedic Renewal Center
Battle Creek Health System opened its Orthopaedic Renewal Center (ORC) in October, 2007. If an individual receives a diagnosis for knee or hip replacement, the ORC program helps them learn what to expect before and after their surgery.

Orthopaedic patients are treated a little differently than in the past. Instead of open-back hospital gowns, they are encouraged to wear casual attire that they bring with them from home. Patients and their families take part in group meals, activities, and other social interactions during the surgery regimen. Even exercise is conducted in a group setting so patients can benefit from the support and encouragement from their new friends at the center.

The staff in the Orthopaedic Renewal Center at BCHS is specially trained to provide comprehensive clinical care in orthopaedics as well as exceptional customer service before, during, and after the patient's hospital stay.

The Orthopaedic Renewal Center focuses more specifically on clinical outcomes. This 'best practices' program helps the hospital's orthopaedic surgeons coordinate a standardization of care which has met with a great deal of success in nearly 500 hospitals all across the U.S. and abroad.

From a fiscal standpoint, BCHS believes that the length of hospital stay for total joint replacement patients should decline. When that occurs, overall hospital costs are reduced through standardization and simplification of the entire care experience, which ultimately enhances patient, physician, and staff satisfaction.

For more information about the Orthopaedic Renewal Center, contact Tracy Barnes at (269) 964-5944.

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