PINEHURST — For the third time, Truven Health Analytics has recognized FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital as one of the nation’s 50 top cardiovascular hospitals.

The hospitals singled out by the multi-national health care services company for the designation achieved superior clinical outcomes in cardiovascular care as part of a 100 Top Hospitals study. Now in its 17th year, the cardiovascular care study used industry-leading, risk-adjusted methods developed and maintained for many years by Truven Health scientists for the rigorous processes used to calculate and measure this critical hospital service line.

The study measures performance in nine key areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.

“Our team-based approach to patients at FirstHealth’s Reid Heart Center provides care that is effective, efficient, individualized, timely and safe,” said Dr. Peter L. Duffy, Reid Heart Center medical director. “This recognition is especially noteworthy since Truven Health Analytics honors only hospitals that provide the best care and are an example for others across the country to follow.”

According to interventional cardiologist Dr. Steven Filby and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Peter I. Ellman, the Top Hospitals designation is a testament to FirstHealth’s focus on quality patient care.

“Hospitals that receive this award have higher survival rates (for serious cardiovascular diagnoses such as myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure), fewer complications and lower readmission rates,” Filby said. “I am proud to be part of a system that has quality as its core mission. We strive to produce the very best in patient care each and every day from complex interventional procedures to routine care.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized in this manner,” Ellman added. “We have worked hard over the years to build a team focused on delivering the highest quality of care for our patients, but we don’t rest on our laurels. We strive, every day, not only to deliver world-class cardiovascular care at the Reid Heart Center, but also to look to the future and continue to learn new operations and familiarize ourselves with state-of-the-art technology.”

He mentions in particular FirstHealth’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement program.

“Our TAVR program is going strong in its third year, and our results have been superb,” he said. “This is a direct manifestation of the expertise we have and how well the cardiologists and surgeons work together to bring such high-quality care to the people in the greater Sandhills region and beyond.”

Duffy believes the Truven Top Cardiovascular Hospitals designation is especially noteworthy since it was reached through independent and objective research into hospital and health system performance.

“Organizations cannot apply or pay for this honor or pay to promote the award,” he says. “We are proud to know that such organizations recognize what our patients already know — that you will get the best care for your heart right here in Moore County.”

For the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study, Truven Health researchers analyzed 2013 and 2014 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, 2014 Medicare cost reports and 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare data. The winning hospitals were announced in the Nov. 9 edition of Modern Healthcare magazine.

The study and subsequent analysis indicate an opportunity for a broader national impact for cardiovascular patients if the results be duplicated. In fact, if all cardiovascular providers in the U.S. performed at the level of this year’s winners, nearly 8,000 additional lives and more than $1.3 billion could be saved and nearly 3,500 more heart patients could be complication-free.

Brenda Bouser works in corporate communications for FirstHealth of the Carolinas.

By Brenda Bouser

For the Daily Journal