Three UCHealth hospitals on nation’s 100 Top Hospitals list

Study shines important light on how high-performing hospitals operate
March 7, 2017

Aurora, Colo. (March 7, 2017) – UCHealth’s Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and University of Colorado Hospital in metro Denver have been named as three of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics.

The is a photo of the main entrance of UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, located in Loveland, Colo.
UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo.

This is the first time MCR, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has been recognized in the Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals study. PVH, on the other hand, has been recognized in the annual study 11 times since 1994. Only 17 hospitals in the nation have been recognized in the study more than 10 times so far. This is the fourth time UCH has been honored.

“I am so proud of the dedication and passion of our nurses, physicians and staff for the extraordinary care they provide to every patient, every day,” said Kevin Unger, president and CEO of MCR and PVH. “This recognition is especially rewarding because the extensive research behind it validates that our hospitals are doing all the right things to keep our patients safe and deliver excellent outcomes at a reasonable cost, all while providing the best patient experience possible as well.”

This is a photo of a UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital sign.
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in metro Denver, Colo.

The UCHealth hospitals are among five Colorado hospitals recognized in the study, which was announced in Monday’s edition of Modern Healthcare magazine. Also recognized this year is Steamboat Springs’ Yampa Valley Medical Center, which is exploring a partnership with UCHealth.

“University of Colorado Hospital is proud to be one of 15 major teaching hospitals that made the 100 Top Hospitals list,” said Will Cook, president and CEO of UCH. “This recognition of UCHealth’s academic research institution is a testament to our excellent providers and staff who are constantly focused on innovation, advanced care and providing the very best experience for our patients.”

This is a photo of UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, located in Fort Collins, Colo.
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.

The Truven Health study is the most comprehensive, academically driven study of its kind. It evaluates clinical and operational performance in 11 areas: inpatient mortality, 30-day mortality rate, complications, core measures, readmission rate, average length of stay, emergency room throughput, inpatient expense per discharge, Medicare spend per beneficiary, operating profit margin and patient rating of overall hospital performance.

The study shows that if all Medicare inpatients in the U.S. received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

  • Nearly than 89,000 additional lives could be saved.
  • More than 61,000 additional patients could be complication-free.
  • More than $5.6 billion in inpatient costs could be saved.
  • The average patient stay would decrease by half a day.
  • More than 300,000 fewer discharged patients would be readmitted within 30 days.
  • Patients would spend nine minutes less in hospital emergency departments per visit.

“The hospital industry’s ongoing transition from fee-for-service to value-based care appears to be bearing some positive results for both patients and payers,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics. “The magnitude of improvement we’ve observed over the last five years is greater than any other five-year period we’ve tracked. On top of that, this year’s winners have reached new highs in performance in comparison to peers across the country, which suggests that improvement in value from hospitals is likely to continue.”

Approximately 2,740 short-term, acute care and non-federal hospitals across the nation were evaluated as part of the Truven Health study. Hospitals do not apply and winners do not pay to market their inclusion on the 100 Top Hospitals list.

 

(Top photo: A team of UCHealth providers performs a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. From left, nurse Erin Walsh, Dr. Justin Strote, Dr. Brad Oldemeyer, Dr. Jeff Koepp, and Dr. Mark Guadagnoli each fulfill a role in multidisciplinary process that is serving as a model for other TAVR programs across the country. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.)

About the author

Kelly Tracer is a media relations specialist at UCHealth, based in northern Colorado. For nearly 20 years, she worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and designer before diving into the world of health care communications.

She believes there is an amazing story inside everyone and considers it an honor to get to meet and work with so many extraordinary people – patients, families, providers, volunteers and staff – every day. She is also fascinated by health care innovation and programs that empower and inspire people and families to live healthier lives.

A native of Nebraska, Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She and her husband have two children and enjoy paddle boarding all summer and skiing all winter.