The Leapfrog Group has identified the "Highest Value" hospitals in the United States based on a review of more than 1,220 hospitals participating in the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey.
Leapfrog evaluates and identifies U.S. hospitals that provide "excellent quality" while simultaneously demonstrating an appropriate use of resources for specific procedures.
"Consumers and purchasers are demanding both quality and cost effectiveness," said Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "These hospitals demonstrate that it is possible to deliver quality healthcare and to keep costs lower by using healthcare resources efficiently."
Leapfrog is currently the only national organization asking hospitals for efficiency information.
"We believe it's important to recognize not only good outcomes, but prudent use of resources as well," Binder said.
The 13 "Highest Value" hospitals in the Leapfrog survey are:
• Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, Calif.
• Mercy Medical Center Redding, Redding, Calif.
• St. Mary's Hospital And Medical Center, Grand Junction, Colo.
• St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Ill.
• St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Fairview Southdale Hospital, Edina, Minn.
• Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, Saint Louis Park, Minn.
• Regions Hospital, Saint Paul, Minn.
• North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, Miss.
• St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee, Ohio
• Providence St Vincent Medical Center, Portland, Ore.
• Mercy General Health Partners (Sherman), Muskegon, Mich.
• St. Clare's Hospital Of Weston Inc, Weston, Wis.
The hospitals were deemed "Highest Value" based on their efficiency scores for coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary interventions, treatment of acute myocardial infarction and pneumonia care.
"It is all about providing the right care at the right moment at the right cost," said Roger Spoelman, president and CEO of Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon, Mich. "This is exactly the kind of platform of quality and cost management our business community has challenged us on and it is the kind of outcome we promised."
To make Leapfrog's list, a hospital had to have a top efficiency of care score for at least three of the four procedures and conditions.
Quality scores are based on meeting appropriate processes of care measures, and hospital volume and risk-adjusted mortality.
Robert Cunnah, MD, chief medical officer for Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., said his hospital has always placed "utmost importance" on quality.
"Especially in these days, you have to be able to tie your quality to best value," Cunnah said. "(People) want the best healthcare but also want it at the best price."