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1991.05.01 :  Report -- Medicare Hospital Mortality Rates

Contact:  Bob Hardy (202) 245-6145
May 1, 1991

       The fourth annual report on mortality rates for Medicare
patients in nearly 6,000 acute-care hospitals was released today
by Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D., administrator of the Health Care
Financing Administration.
       "This information is a valuable resource for the health
care community, but especially for hospital administrators and
medical staffs as they evaluate the quality of care in their
facilities," Dr. Wilensky said.  
       The new report, which covers 1987, 1988 and 1989, differs
from its predecessors by including mortality data for surgical
procedures for the first time.  Actual and predicted mortality
rates in each hospital are reported for all causes, nine surgical
procedures and eight medical conditions.  The 1989 report
provided mortality information for 16 diagnostic categories and
for all causes.
       Also, the new edition reports mortality rates within 30,
90 and 180 days after hospital admission.  Previous reports were
limited to deaths occurring within 30 days after hospital
admission.
       Dr. Wilensky said "the analytical and reporting
methodology for Medicare mortality information is improved every
year.  Our
continuing refinements of Medicare mortality information have
produced an increasingly reliable screening tool to identify
potential problems in the quality of hospital inpatient care,"
she said.
       Although validation studies have demonstrated a
correlation between poor quality of care and mortality rates that
are higher than predicted levels, Dr. Wilensky cautioned
consumers that the mortality data for any hospital "are not a
direct measure of the quality of care."
       She explained that consumers should use the information in
consultation with their physicians.  Mortality rates can be
affected by a variety of factors and do not necessarily represent
the total performance of a hospital in caring for its patients.
     The predicted rates of mortality for each hospital are based
on HCFA's data on approximately 10 million Medicare hospital
admissions a year, with adjustments for the characteristics of
patients treated at the particular hospital.  
       The medical conditions in the report are acute myocardial
infarction, congestive heart failure, pneumonia/influenza,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, transient cerebral
ischemia, stroke, hip fracture and sepsis.  The surgical
procedures include angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft,
initial pacemaker insertion, carotid endarterectomy, hip
replacement/reconstruction, open reduction of hip fracture,
prostatectomy, cholecystectomy and hysterectomy.



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