Worcester Area Hospitals – 2015
If you haven’t been affected by physician or hospital mistakes, there’s a fairly good chance you might be. Nearly one-quarter of Massachusetts residents report that they have been affected by them, but just over one-third have bothered to check their physician’s safety record. There are several different organizations that evaluate hospital and physician care across the United States, in order to help consumers make informed decisions about their healthcare. While these resources are helpful, there can be some inconsistency between the raters, and even the highest ranked can receive low ranking in specific care areas.
Quality of Medical Care in Worcester, MA
Hospital Compare—Assigns a star rating and compares hospitals based on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey of patients’s experiences, timely and effective care, re-admissions, complications and deaths, use of medical imaging, payment and value of care and number of Medicare patients. A search engine allows those who are researching hospital quality to compare up to three hospitals at a time. The data revealed that patient experiences at a hospital that had received an “A” grade, and one that received a “C” grade, received very similar results. Responses to survey questions between the two hospitals varied no more than seven percentage points with most ratings varying two percentage points or less. In this instance, the “A” graded hospital received three stars, and the “C” graded hospital received two stars.
Hospital Safety Score—Looks at several potential issues that may present themselves in a hospital and compares their performance to that of other hospitals across the country. It divides issues into main issues, and further subcategorizes them into more specific issues and defines the performance of each as below-average, average, and above average. The overall data is then evaluated, and the hospital is assigned a grade that potential patients can use as a reference point when they choose a hospital to be treated at.
Health Grades—Allows users to search for doctors, dentists, or hospitals by geographic location, and can also look at a specific provider, specialty, condition, or procedure. Results can be sorted according to patient satisfaction rating (a star rating) and individual doctors and hospital profiles can be viewed and compared as well.
US News and World Report—Rates and ranks hospitals and subdivides based on five different care measures. They also distinguish different rankings for best hospitals, best common care hospitals, and best regional hospitals.Their doctor finder provides results based on specialty and location.
Explanation and Limitation of US News Ratings
US News & World Report grades are on a curve, and look at quality based on national averages. Evaluations were done on 4,500 hospitals. Strengths and weakness of individuals can vary a lot, and few are high performing in most areas—just 34 made the grade in all five areas, but 800 were granted the distinction in at least one area. Patients are advised to look at the specific criteria that they value most, for example patient satisfaction vs. re-admission rate, along with the overall rating when making their decision regarding care. One limiting factor in results is that patient satisfaction is based on data collected from patients over age 65, covered by Medicare, but US News and World Report claims that it is still a good measure because the way that older patients are treated is telling of patient care overall.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Even the best hospitals and health care providers fall short with patient care at times, and many of the errors made are avoidable. If you are experiencing adverse health effects due to those mistakes, you may have a case for medical malpractice. As an exclusive personal injury lawyer, Peter Ventura, has the experience and focus on helping you build the best medical malpractice case possible.
Worcester, MA Area Hospitals and Ranking Data
- Athol Memorial Hospital: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, no data; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 3; Healthgrades awards, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 4.
- Clinton Hospital, Clinton, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, no data; US. News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 5; Healthgrades awards OPE, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare), N/A.
- Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, A; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 15; Healthgrades awards PSE, OPE, Medicare.gov patient survey stars(Hospital Compare) 4.
- Health Alliance Hospital, Leominster, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, A; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 20; Healthgrades awards x, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) N/A.
- Heywood Hospital, Gardner, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, C; US News & World Report ND; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 16; Healthgrades awards x, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 3.
- Marlborough Hospital, Marlborough, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, A; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 17; Healthgrades awards PSE, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 3.
- Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015 A; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 29; Healthgrades awards , DH-CE/PSE/WHE/America’s 100 Best hospitals for cardiac care, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 3.
- Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, A ; US News & World Report, RRH; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 21; Healthgrades awards PSE/OPE, Medicare.gov patient survey stars(Hospital Compare) 4
- St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015, A; US News & World Report, no data; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 34; Healthgrades awards DH-CE/PSE/America’s 100 Best hospitals for cardiac care and more, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 3.
- UMass Memorial Medical Center-Memorial Campus, 119 Belmont St., Worcester, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015 C; US News & World Report RRH/HP; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 34; Healthgrades awards 50 best – cardiac & many more, Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 2.
- UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus, 55 Lake Ave N., Worcester, Mass.: Hospital Safety Score, Spring 2015 C; US News & World Report RRH/HP; Number of conditions & procedures rated on Healthgrades, 2; Healthgrades awards Distinguished hospital & many more; Medicare.gov patient survey stars (Hospital Compare) 2.
Other area hospitals (recover/rehabilitation) not rated:
Adcare Hospital of Worcester
Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital
Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital
