State Report Examines Hospitals’ Performance on Cardiac Bypass Procedures
Nine California hospitals had "significantly worse-than-expected" mortality rates among their heart bypass patients, even after taking into account the severity of patients' conditions, according to a report released Monday by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The survey examined 57,388 bypass patients whose cases were voluntarily submitted by 77 of the state's 121 nonfederal hospitals that performed such procedures in 2000, 2001 and/or 2002 (Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/26).
Researchers compared in-hospital death rates after coronary artery bypass graft surgeries. They adjusted ratings for risk factors such as age, other illnesses and whether the patient had long-standing heart problems, the Contra Costa Times reports.
According to the study, hospitals that perform the highest volume of heart bypass surgeries usually have more successful outcomes than other hospitals. In addition, hospitals that voluntarily participated in the study revealed a mortality rate of 2.61% compared to 3.35% for hospitals that did not participate, according to the study (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 4/26).
Voluntary participation in the study ended in 2003. All California hospitals are now required to report data on clinical conditions for heart bypass patients to the state. A report on the first year of mandatory data will be released this fall, according to Joseph Parker, director of the OSHPD Healthcare Outcomes Center (San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/26).
The report is available online.