According to a recent study that looked at mortality rates for California hospitals between 2006 and 2007, some hospitals are much better than others.

The authors of the study examined hospital mortality rates for eight high-risk procedures and medical conditions, including stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, hip fracture and brain surgery. The list of surgical procedures examined in the report includes: esophageal resection, pancreatic resection, craniotomy, carotid endarterectomy, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

 

The study conducted by the state Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development rated facilities as better than, worse than or on par with the state average for the eight categories.

 

“Overall, we find most hospitals are performing as expected, on par with the rest of the state,” Joe Parker, director of the health planning office's Healthcare Outcomes Center, was quoted as saying.

 

In 2006, 33 hospitals were rated significantly better than the state average for at least one of the eight categories and 98 hospitals were rated worse than the state average. One year later, the situation changed, with 25 hospitals rated better than the state average on at least one indicator and 94 were rated worse.

 

Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court on Thursday barred emergency room doctors from billing insured patients when their health plans refuse to pay. The decision provides strong support to patient’s advocates who say that emergency room doctors and patients are putting patients in the middle of the dispute with health maintenance organizations, or HMOs.