Contact: Joe Martin
717-232-6787 or

NEW PHC4 REPORT ON HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE SHOWS LOWER MORTALITY AND READMISSION RATES

Harrisburg, PA - December 16, 2015 - A report released today by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) shows significant statewide decreases in hospital mortality and readmission rates. Known as the Hospital Performance Report (HPR), the report includes hospital-specific mortality and readmission ratings as well as volume of cases and charges for patients discharged from Pennsylvania’s general acute care hospitals in 2014. Statewide and regional trends were also examined comparing 2009 data to 2014.

Report results showed significant decreases in statewide in-hospital mortality rates for ten of the 16 conditions for which mortality ratings were reported. The largest decrease was in Septicemia where the mortality rate fell from 17.7% in 2009 to 11.0% in 2014.

"Reductions in mortality and readmission rates point to the commitment that Pennsylvania hospitals have to providing quality care," said Joe Martin, PHC4’s Executive Director. "A particularly noteworthy sign is the decrease in readmissions for chronic conditions such as CHF and COPD, which can be significant cost drivers," added Martin.

In addition to Septicemia, other conditions showing significant mortality declines between 2009 and 2014 were:

• Pneumonia – Aspiration: 9.9% to 6.4%
• Heart Attack – Medical Management: 10.2% to 8.2%
• Kidney Failure – Acute: 4.9% to 2.9%
• Colorectal Procedures: 2.8% to 1.8%
• Stroke: 4.4% to 3.7%
• Pneumonia – Infectious: 2.7% to 2.0%
• Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections: 0.8% to 0.5%
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 0.8% to 0.6%
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): 2.9% to 2.7%

Significant increases in mortality were seen in two conditions: Heart Attack – Angioplasty/Stent, where the mortality rate increased from 1.4% to 1.8% and Hypotension and Fainting where the rate rose from 0.2% to 0.4%.

Statewide 30-day readmission rates showed significant decreases for seven of the 13 conditions for which readmissions were reported:

• Pneumonia – Aspiration: 24.9% to 21.7%
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): 26.8% to 23.8%
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 22.6% to 20.1%
• Stroke: 15.0% to 12.9%
• Kidney Failure – Acute: 23.8% to 21.7%
• Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections: 17.8% to 15.9%
• Abnormal Heartbeat: 15.2% to 14.5%

Only one condition, Chest Pain, saw a significant increase in the rate of readmission from 12.3% to 14.6%.

PHC4 publishes the Hospital Performance Report in three regional editions—Southeastern Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, and Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Copies are free and available from PHC4’s website at www.phc4.org.

PHC4 is an independent state agency charged with collecting, analyzing and reporting information that can be used to improve the quality and restrain the cost of health care in Pennsylvania.