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Geneva, IL —
Newly released data shows that Delnor Hospital had the highest mortality rate for patients with hip fractures and the lowest death rate for heart attack patients when compared with other hospitals in Kane and DuPage counties.
The Illinois Department of Public Health published hospital mortality statistics for the first time this month. From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, the IDPH reported that four out of 104 hip fracture patients died at Delnor. By comparison, zero out of 72 hip fracture patients died at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and one out 128 patients died at Edward Hospital in Naperville. The state average is 3 percent, but Delnor’s average is 4.51 percent.
Delnor’s Director of Quality and Safety Marie Lee said hip fracture patients who died could have had a combination of risk factors, such as age and previous medical conditions.
“It may have been from an old stroke visit,” Lee said.
Lee said all deaths are reviewed by a specialist and if it is found that the death was unexpected, then the case moves on to peer review.
“The whole issue of mortality is something we continue to look at,” Lee said.
She said hospital staff will revisit each of the hip fracture death cases to study if they had managed medical complications well versus other unavoidable risk factors. But she is certain that everything was looked at when the deaths were first reviewed.
“We are doing our best to improve our care,” Lee said.
Delnor has a zero percent mortality rate for patients receiving hip replacements, as do most other hospitals.
In heart attack patient deaths, Delnor had the lowest rate when compared with other hospitals in Kane and DuPage counties. Delnor’s 2.78 percent death rate in this category is well below the state average of 8.79 percent. Out of 147 heart attack patients at Delnor from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, four died compared with 16 patients out of 185 at Rush-Copley Medical Center and six patients out of 197 at Central DuPage Hospital.
“We have a very skilled team of cardiologists,” Lee said.
The IDPH mortality data is part of a report card of statistics for all hospitals in the state. IDPH spokesperson Melaney Arnold said it could help patients decide which hospital offers the best medical service in a particular area.
“It can be beneficial in choosing which hospital for a procedure to be done,” Arnold said.
She said the data also helps hospital administrators study where the hospital could improve.
Newly released data shows that Delnor Hospital had the highest mortality rate for patients with hip fractures and the lowest death rate for heart attack patients when compared with other hospitals in Kane and DuPage counties.
The Illinois Department of Public Health published hospital mortality statistics for the first time this month. From July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, the IDPH reported that four out of 104 hip fracture patients died at Delnor. By comparison, zero out of 72 hip fracture patients died at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and one out 128 patients died at Edward Hospital in Naperville. The state average is 3 percent, but Delnor’s average is 4.51 percent.
Delnor’s Director of Quality and Safety Marie Lee said hip fracture patients who died could have had a combination of risk factors, such as age and previous medical conditions.
“It may have been from an old stroke visit,” Lee said.
Lee said all deaths are reviewed by a specialist and if it is found that the death was unexpected, then the case moves on to peer review.
“The whole issue of mortality is something we continue to look at,” Lee said.
She said hospital staff will revisit each of the hip fracture death cases to study if they had managed medical complications well versus other unavoidable risk factors. But she is certain that everything was looked at when the deaths were first reviewed.
“We are doing our best to improve our care,” Lee said.
Delnor has a zero percent mortality rate for patients receiving hip replacements, as do most other hospitals.
In heart attack patient deaths, Delnor had the lowest rate when compared with other hospitals in Kane and DuPage counties. Delnor’s 2.78 percent death rate in this category is well below the state average of 8.79 percent. Out of 147 heart attack patients at Delnor from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, four died compared with 16 patients out of 185 at Rush-Copley Medical Center and six patients out of 197 at Central DuPage Hospital.
“We have a very skilled team of cardiologists,” Lee said.
The IDPH mortality data is part of a report card of statistics for all hospitals in the state. IDPH spokesperson Melaney Arnold said it could help patients decide which hospital offers the best medical service in a particular area.
“It can be beneficial in choosing which hospital for a procedure to be done,” Arnold said.
She said the data also helps hospital administrators study where the hospital could improve.
“We will continue to add other data elements,” Arnold said.
The IDPH also reports data on standardized infection ratios. Delnor has been particularly successful in preventing infections.
“We have had no (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) infections for over 14 months,” Lee said.
In the percentage of patients that reported being highly satisfied, Delnor comes in a close second to Central DuPage Hospital.
“It’s always our intent to be No. 1,” Lee said.
What she believes will help make Delnor No. 1 is its designation as a Planetree facility, which means that it focuses on patient-centered care, such as providing music, massage and pet therapy to soothe and relax the patient.
“We’ve had a huge focus on patient satisfaction,” Lee said.
Learn More
To compare statistics of Illinois hospitals, visit http://www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov
