Criteria based on patient safety, mortality, quality and patient satisfaction

(OMAHA, Neb.) – For the second consecutive year, Alegent Health was the only health care system in Nebraska to be named one of the top health systems in the United States by Thomson Reuters.

Alegent Health President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard A. Hachten II, FACHE, calls the recognition "very gratifying" saying Alegent Health is committed to improving its quality, safety and patient experience all of which are taken into account in this study. "Everyone at Alegent Health is a part of this effort to continue to improve patient care and we are grateful for the recognition of those efforts," said Hachten.

The study found Alegent Health in the top 20 percent of the best-performing U.S. health systems, based on clinical performance across their entire system. Researchers from the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals program analyzed the quality and efficiency of 285 health systems, and their 1,944 hospitals. Researchers found statistically significant differences between top and bottom performers in several key areas.

"Our core measures (which look at the clinical treatment of patients who come into the Emergency Department with certain conditions like a heart attack) are among the best in the country," said Hachten. "This study tells me we are also doing a good job at serving our patients mind, body and spirit – just as our Mission calls us to do."

According to Thomson Reuters, the study evaluated U.S. health systems with two or more short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of patients.

"At Alegent Health we are better known for our compassionate family and faith based care, but we’ve also been quietly making sure that the care our patients receive is the very best quality care in our region," said Alegent Health senior vice president and chief quality officer, Richard D. Miller, DO, MHA, FAAFP. "The Thompson Reuters report is simply evidence that we are succeeding, and that translates into better health for the people we serve."

Researchers looked at eight metrics that gauge clinical quality and efficiency: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, 30-day mortality rate, 30-day readmission rate, adherence to clinical standards of care (evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), and H-CAHPS patient survey score (part of a national initiative sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to measure the quality of care in hospitals).

About Alegent Health
With a commitment to providing high quality care and an exceptional patient experience, Alegent Health, its 1,300 Med-staff physicians and 8,500 employees are focused on caring for the body, mind and spirit of every person. Patients find a continuum of care at Alegent Health, from primary care through geriatrics. Families can also find specialty care at Alegent Health including women's and children's, cardiovascular, orthopaedics, spine, oncology, physical rehabilitation and behavioral health services. With the blessing of our sponsors, Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems, Alegent Health has grown to 10 hospitals and more than 100 sites of service making us the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care provider in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Alegent Health is online at www.alegent.com