Methodist Hospitals has received the 2009/2010 Women’s Health Excellence Award from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, based on a newly released study of patient outcomes.

Hospitals that receive this award rank among the top 5% of all hospitals nationwide when it comes to providing care to women in three areas: Women’s Medicine (heart attack, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke); Women’s Cardiovascular Procedures (coronary bypass surgery, peripheral vascular bypass, coronary interventional procedures, resection/replacement of abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid surgery, and valve replacement); and Women’s Bone & Joint Health (total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, spinal surgeries, and hip fracture repair).

“We are honored to receive the Women’s Health Excellence Award from HealthGrades. This award further reinforces our commitment as the leader in subspecialty care for Northwest Indiana. Women are often times the healthcare drivers in their family but overlook their own health needs. It is important that women take time for themselves and their health needs, not only will it improve their own quality of life but also the lives of the people they care for. This designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our primary care physicians, specialists, clinical staff and nurses,” stated Ian E. McFadden, CEO/President, Methodist Hospitals.

According the Sixth Annual HealthGrades Women’s Health in American Hospitals study released today by HealthGrades, wide gaps in quality outcomes for women persist among hospitals. The study, which analyzes patient outcomes for the inhospital treatment of 16 procedures/diagnoses concerning women’s health and maternity care, finds that top-performing hospitals improved their mortality and morbidity 33% more than poorly performing hospitals in the period studied, 2005 through 2007. Among eligible hospitals, the study found that a total of 18,089 lives could have been saved and 6,849 complications avoided if all eligible hospitals performed at the level of the best-performing hospitals in women’s health.

“As our population ages, more women are affected and hospitalized by chronic diseases like congestive heart failure and variations in quality do exist between men and women,” said Dr. Rick May, senior physician consultant and a study co-author. “The hospitals that have been identified as Women’s Health Excellence Award recipients are clearly performing at a superior level of quality. Women have a choice in healthcare and should do their homework prior to choosing a hospital.”

Methodist Hospital is also the recipient of the 2009 Stroke Care Excellence Award from HealthGrades. This award recognizes Methodist Hospital’s clinical excellence for treating stroke patients, placing the facility in the top ten percent nationwide for stroke services five years in a row. Methodist Hospital is also being recognized for 5 star ratings for Treatment of Pneumonia, Treatment of Bowel Obstruction and GI surgeries and procedures.

HealthGrades analyzed more than 2.6 million hospitalizations using Medicare data from all 50 states from 2005 through 2007. To be included in the analysis, hospitals had to have an open heart program and treat significant numbers of women for stroke. Hospitals also had to have a significant patient population in at least six additional cohorts from all areas (pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, orthopedics and spine).

The full HealthGrades study can be found at www.healthgrades.com.