Death rate much lower at nation's highest performing hospitals, study finds

A study by independent health care ratings company HealthGrades found that if every hospital performed as well as the most highly rated facilities, 237, 420 Medicare patient deaths could have been prevented between 2005 and 2007 (Source: “Death rate 70 percent lower at top hospitals,” MSNBC, Oct. 14, 2008).

On a positive note, The in-hospital risk-adjusted mortality rate decreased by 14.2 percent from 2005 to 2007, according to the study. And Ohio is part of the five-state East North Central region identified by HealthGrades as having the lowest overall risk-adjusted mortality rate in the nation. The other states in the region are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.