Scripps Health has been named among the 15 top health systems in the nation by the international business research firm Truven Health Analytics. This is Scripps’ fourth appearance on the Top 15 Health System’s list. Scripps is the only health care system in Southern California to make the list this year.
“We are honored to be named to this prestigious list for the fourth time and to be recognized for providing the highest standards of excellence and care to patients,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health. “This distinction is a direct reflection of the safe, exceptional and compassionate care that our physicians, nurses and staff deliver every day to our patients.”
The Truven Health Analytics study analyzed data from 338 health systems and 2,912 member hospitals and singled out the top 15 health care systems based on balanced systemwide clinical and administrative performance. The five performance domains measured were inpatient outcomes, process of care, extended outcomes, efficiency and patient experience.
The 15 Top Health Systems study is part of the 100 Top Hospitals® program at Truven Health Analytics – of which Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was recently named to for the first time.
Key findings
Winning health systems achieved higher survival rates and fewer errors at a lower overall treatment cost than non-winning health systems. Specifically, overall mortality rates were 14.7 percent lower for winning health systems versus non-winning peer group hospitals; complication rates were 15.1 percent lower; and emergency department wait times were 12.3 percent lower.
“These 15 top-performing health systems prove that quality and efficiency can improve across entire systems, regardless of their size,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Truven Health Analytics. “It is clear from our data that many hospital systems have been able to implement a consistent, coordinated approach to quality improvement in the areas that matter most to patients and that is scalable across member hospitals.”
Additional winning health system performance metrics include:
• Lower cost per episode: The 15 Top Health System winners spent 5 percent less per care episode than non-winning peer systems.
• Shorter hospital stays: The top health systems discharged patients from the hospital a half-day sooner than non-winners.
• Higher patient satisfaction scores: Winning health systems attained average Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores that were 7 percentage points higher than non-winning peers.
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a nonprofit integrated health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats more than 600,000 patients annually through the dedication of 3,000 affiliated physicians and more than 15,000 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, hospice and home health care services, 28 outpatient centers and clinics, and hundreds of physician offices throughout the region.
Recognized as a leader in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, Scripps is also at the forefront of clinical research, genomic medicine and wireless health care. With three highly respected graduate medical education programs, Scripps is a longstanding member of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Scripps has been ranked four times as one of the nation’s best health care systems by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals are consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation’s best and Scripps is regularly recognized by Fortune, Working Mother magazine and AARP as one of the best places in the nation to work. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.
