Independence Health System Nationally Recognized Again by Healthgrades for Specialty Care

Health System Hospitals Lauded For 21 Clinical Achievements, Including 
America’s Best Honors in Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention 

GREENSBURG, PA, January 15, 2024 … Independence Health System has again achieved numerous accolades for clinical excellence, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading resource consumers use to find a hospital or doctor. Among the health system’s latest designations are two America’s Best Hospitals for Specialty Care distinctions, four Specialty Excellence Awards and 15 Five-Star Distinctions.  These achievements place Independence Health System in the upper echelon of hospitals nationally for specialty care and reflect the organization’s commitment to consistently delivering the best care possible. 

 
          The 2024 Healthgrades analysis revealed that the variation in performance among hospitals continues to widen, making it increasingly important to seek care at top-rated programs.  From 2020 through 2022, if all hospitals as a group performed similarly to five-star hospitals, on average, 215,667 lives could potentially have been saved, and 149,521 patients could have avoided potential complications.* 

           For this latest evaluation period, Independence Health System Westmoreland Hospital was recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care™ and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™. Healthgrades identified the 100 Best hospitals for 16 of the most common specialty care offerings.  These distinctions, along with numerous other accolades from Healthgrades reflect Independence Health Westmoreland Health’s outstanding clinical performance and distinguishes it as one of the country’s leading hospitals. 

Independence Health System Westmoreland Hospital also received the Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ and the Surgical Care Excellence Award™ as well as Five-Star Distinctions in: Coronary Bypass, Coronary Intervention Procedures, Treatment of Heart Attack, Treatment of Heart Failure, Total Knee Replacement, Colorectal Surgeries, Treatment of Bowel Obstruction, Treatment of Sepsis and Respiratory Failure. 

           Independence Health System Latrobe Hospital was among the Top 10% of hospitals in the nation for GI Medical Treatment and Five-Star Distinctions in Treatment of Heart Attack, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeries, Treatment of Bowel Obstruction, Treatment of GI Bleed, Treatment of Sepsis and Respiratory Failure. 

           Healthgrades evaluates hospitals solely on clinical outcomes: risk-adjusted mortality and complications. By focusing on what matters most, patient outcomes, Healthgrades ratings provide critical feedback for both patients and hospitals. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades gives consumers the information they need to find a hospital that excels in providing the care they need. And, by shining a light on strengths and weaknesses, Healthgrades ratings help direct hospitals to opportunities for clinical improvement.  The 2024 hospital assessment evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 35 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to identify the top performers. 

         “Healthgrades congratulates Independence Health System for being a national leader and demonstrating a deep commitment to providing high quality care to all patients,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades. “Your dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts have not only set you apart but have also positively impacted the lives of countless patients.” 

          Consumers can visit Healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access a patient-friendly overview of how we rate and why hospital quality matters here.  

          *Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2020 through 2022 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2024 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.  

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Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925.  With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and 7,300 employees, the System is now the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than 10 counties.  
 
The System includes tertiary programs that are rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery by Healthgrades in its Top 100 designations. In similar fashion, the prestigious Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) bestowed its top three-star rating. Historically, less than 10 percent of programs within the STS data base achieve this elite standing. The hospitals of Independence Health System also have earned a host of accolades from such prestigious outlets and sources as US News and World Report, Newsweek Magazine, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Surgeons, the Joint Commission, Leapfrog and the American Heart/Stroke Association. 

Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services.   
 
Independence Health System continues to change the healthcare landscape in western Pennsylvania by meeting patient needs through superb physician expertise, outstanding nursing, the latest in technology and programmatic depth. 

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