Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization, has released a report which suggests that an individual's likelihoods of surviving some high-risk surgeries in the U.S. may depend upon the choice of the hospital.
The aim of the latest Leapfrog Group report is to increase the quality of services provided by hospitals and allow patients and their families to make an informed decision while choosing a hospital for a particular surgery. Leapfrog Group suggests that the choice of hospital for a surgery can make a difference between life and death.
The Leapfrog report took into account data from 1,500 U.S. hospitals in 2013 and analyzed four surgeries considered as high-risk procedures. The report also considered the mortality rate of each surgery and also estimated the survival rate for each surgical procedure.
The report found that pancreatectomy, the process where all or part of the pancreas is removed and which is usually performed for treating cancer, had a predicted survival rate between 81 percent to 100 percent. The report suggests that 203 hospitals out of 487 hospitals observed had the rate at 91.3 percent, which was also considered as standard quality rate by Leapfrog.
Esophagectomy, the process of partial or complete removal of the esophagus, had a survival rate that ranged from 88 percent to 98 percent. Out of the 535 hospitals surveyed, only 182 had the benchmark Leapfrog rate of 91.7 percent.
The survival rate for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm's ranged between 86 percent to 99 percent. Only 268 hospitals out of 792 hospitals had the benchmark rate of 97.3 percent.
Heart aortic valve's replacement had a survival rate that was between 92 percent to 97 percent. Just 95 hospitals of 544 hospitals observed met the benchmark of 95.6 percent.
The Leapfrog study did not note the type of hospitals (for-profit or nonprofit). Leapfrog began its hospital survey in 2001. It assesses hospital performance based on national performance measures that cover a broad spectrum of hospital services, processes, and structures. Hospitals can use the survey results to benchmark the progress they make in improving the safety, quality, and efficiency of the care they deliver. The 2014 survey covered from April 1 to Dec. 31. The 2015 survey will start collecting information on April 1.
Erica Mobley, spokeswoman for Leapfrog Group, noted the report found a lot of variation in the performance of various hospitals. Mobley also said that many hospitals were asked to participate in the study but some were unable to provide data as they did not perform enough surgeries.
"What you're looking for is a hospital that's performing a really high volume," says Mobley. "We want hospitals that don't have a high volume to be referring patients to a hospital that does."
Officials of Leapfrog Group suggest that the report is important as hospitals that have low rates can improve their performance by learning from hospitals with higher rates.
All hospitals should follow best practices for performing surgical procedures. Hospitals should also ensure that surgeons as well as staff members involved with surgical procedures are properly trained so that the survival rate increases for various high-risk surgeries.
Photo: Army Medicine | Flickr
