According to a recent study of Medicare hospitalizations from 2006 - 2008, patients in a 5 star hospital have a 71.64% lower risk of dying than those at a 1 star hospital! About 57% of potentially preventable hospitals deaths were associated with the following: sepsis (massive infection), pneumonia, heart failure and respiratory failure.
In considering full report of the study, we do find that PA does have one of the highest percentages of top 15% hospitals for cardiac surgery. However, the majority of PA's hospitals fall in the middle 70% of ranked hospitals. Overall, of the 161 PA hospitals studied, 15.53% were among the top 15% of the country, 73.29% are in the middle 70% and 11.18% are in the bottom 15% of the countries hospitals (one star facilities).
So how do you find out where your local hospital ranks? First, hospitals are ranked overall and also based on speciality (for example, cardiac surgery, stroke, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, etc).
As we've discussed, there are online "hospital rankings" but they can be difficult to understand. Health Grades is one example: http://www.healthgrades.com/find-a-hospital
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