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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 22, 2005 Mortality rates average at area hospitals By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune The mortality rates for 12 medical conditions and procedures at the four main hospitals in Jackson and Josephine counties are in line with state averages, according to a state hospital quality report. The Oregon Hospital Quality Indicator Project, released Thursday by the Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research, marks the first time the state has publicized health-care quality information on a Web site. "You can look at repairs on a car online, but you can’t find basic information on health care," said Bruce Goldberg, administrator for the Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research. "This is just the first step of a long journey to provide consumers with the information they need to make health-care decisions." The report reflects a national push to make health-care information more accessible to consumers, he said. "Making health-care data available to the public has shown to improve the quality of health care in communities," Goldberg said. "Health-care facilities will want to compete and do better to earn people’s business." Advertisement Using hospital discharge data, the report gives 2004 mortality rates for patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, esophageal resection, pancreatic resection, pediatric heart surgery, carotid artery plaque removal, angioplasty and heart bypass surgery. Also included are death rates from stroke, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture and pneumonia. Accounting for a statistical margin of error, Ashland Community Hospital, Providence Medford Medical Center, Rogue Valley Medical Center and Three Rivers Community Hospital and Health Center were within the state averages for all procedures and conditions for which they were listed. Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, however, had mortality percentages higher than state averages for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. "The percentages are higher than the state averages but not statistically higher," said Mary Barrie, performance improvement director for Asante Health System, which owns RVMC and Three Rivers. "I don’t think we would do anything differently. "We are always looking to make things better." Providence Medford Medical Center had a mortality rate of 16.9 percent for stroke, higher than the state average of 12.7 percent. Not all hospitals were listed for each category because some did not have enough cases to be considered reliable data, according to the report. Statewide, mortality rates for most conditions and procedures exceeded national averages. The report is not intended to be the sole source for choosing a hospital, Goldberg said. "It’s meant to provide people with information they can discuss with their doctor and use as one of many pieces of information to make a decision," Goldberg said. Links to other sources, including the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and the National Healthcare Quality Report and are available on the state Web site. Local hospital officials praised the state for making health-care information more accessible but worried consumers might not know the report’s limitations. "There is a whole batch of indicators you need to look at to evaluate quality," said Eugene Ogrod, chief medical officer for Providence Medford. Those include processes, rates of infection and complications, among others, he said. The Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research plans to continue adding health-care information to the state Web site. What categories will be included and a timeline for the process has not been determined, Goldberg said. Morality rate study 2004 mortality rates for proceduresin Southern Oregon hospitals Ashland Community Hospital Hip fracture: 2.2 percent Pneumonia: 5.1 percent Providence Medford Medical Center : Heart attack: 7.9 percent Heart failure: 2.3 percent Pneumonia: 6 percent Stroke: 16.9 percent Rogue Valley Medical Center : Angioplasty: 1 percent Heart attack: 9.7 percent Heart bypass: 3 percent Heart failure: 3.7 percent Hip fracture: 3.3 percent Pneumonia: 5.6 percent Stroke: 11.2 percent Three Rivers Community Hospital and Health Center : Heart attack: 15.2 percent Heart failure: 6.1 percent Hip fracture: 2.7 percent Pneumonia: 8.2 percent Stroke: 11.6 percent Statewide averages (U.S. rates for 2002 in parentheses) : Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: 11.3 percent (10.5) Angioplasty: 1.4 percent (1.3) Carotid artery plaque removal 0.8 percent (0.7) Esophageal resection: 9.4 percent (9.2) Heart attack: 9.8 percent (10.3) Heart bypass: 3.4 percent (2.9) Heart failure: 4.6 percent (3.9) Hip fracture: 3.3 percent (2.8) Pancreatic resection: 4.2 percent (7.2) Pediatric heart surgery: 3.4 percent (4.3) Pneumonia: 7.1 percent (8) Stroke: 12.7 percent (10.8) ON THE WEB The full report is available at oregon.gov/DAS/OHPPR on the Web. The report released Thursday Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail Mortality rates average at area hospitals ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s