Study sheds light on 'best' and 'worst' Tampa Bay area hospitals for key patient care
Wake up and good morning.
How do you know which hospital to choose for such critical care issues as heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia? A new analysis is out that sheds some light nationally -- and even within the Tampa Bay area -- on the good and no-so-good hospitals.
The key, of course, is knowing this information in advance so an emergency does not make the choice of hospital for you. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Regional Hospital.)
Too many people die needlessly at U.S. hospitals, according to a sweeping new Medicare analysis showing wide variation in death rates between the best hospitals and the worst. The data are compiled by the federal government's Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and cover a three-year period from mid-2005 to 2008. The agency also has supplied the information to the hospitals included and posted them on a government Web site called Hospital Compare. USA Today also has massaged this data and made it friendly to use here.
So let's cut to the chase. Of those hospitals in the national analysis, which ones in the Tampa Bay area are the "best" (meaning lowest) or "worst" (meaning highest) based on the percentages of patient deaths for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia?
* Heart attack deaths. Best: Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater (12.2 percent). Worst: Memorial Hospital of Tampa (20.8 percent) and Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River (20.1 percent).
* Heart failure deaths. Best: Brandon Regional Hospital (8.9 percent) and Morton Plant North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey (9 percent). Worst: Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton (15.2 percent).
* Pneumonia deaths. Best: Largo Medical Center (8.9 percent). Worst: Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton (14.6 percent).
There's a ton of other useful information -- including an analysis on hospital readmissions (high readmission rates suggest hospitals did not fix the patient problems in the first place). Check it out.
For example, just south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota Memorial Hospital was No. 2 in the country with the lowest readmission rate for heart attacks (15.4 percent), No. 5 in readmission for pneumonia (13.8 percent) and ranked in the top 100 in low readmission rates for heart failure.
-- Robert Trigaux, Times Business Columnist
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Robert Trigaux has worked as a St. Petersburg Times business columnist,
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Hospital access must be for all of us. My family cannot afford insurance and luckily my son is insured through a government programs. President Obama we need health care now becuase Medicaid do not cut it anymore!
Posted by: Shakeela | July 10, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Define afford? It appears that Shakeela does not understand the definition of afford. I would bet she chooses unwisely to not have coverage, so that she can have more money to buy consumer goods.
Posted by: Steve | July 10, 2009 at 11:18 AM
here is SHAKEELA talking about government handouts again! you didnt get enough of that in the last article?
I bet you take your kid to the hospital for everything instead of using a pediatrician.
Posted by: Red | July 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Hospital Access is for all. No one is turned away at the ER.
Posted by: DoctorDoom | July 10, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I bet Shakeela cant "afford" to buy healthy food and preventative care, but can afford a big screen tv and multiple video game consoles for her kids.
Posted by: Red | July 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
I just read one of the articles and it talks about not paying doctors on how many procedures they do, but on how their patients fare. IF they do that then no one would want to take on the high risk bad outcome patients. No one would want to be the doctor for the 450pound obese person with CHF, diabetes, multiple MI, who smokes.
Posted by: Red | July 10, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Red, I do not have any of those things. We have a small tv but we do not have any game console. As a single mother with 4 kids, money is tight especially since I am unemploye.
While nobody is turned away at an ER you bet the people with insurance receive better health care than people with medicaid do.
Posted by: Shakeela | July 10, 2009 at 11:31 AM
If you are so concerned with getting your GED and a job, why are you spending all your time on the internet right now posting comments. Get off your butt and be productive. And you might want to learn some proper English along the way. That might help your search. And stop feeding the kids fried food and fast food. That won't help their health.
And I know that people need health insurance. I think it is horrible that people don't have it. And I feel blessed. But only in America can the poor be fat.
Posted by: Red | July 10, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Red,
You are coming across very rude. I am an strong educated black woman and you feel insecure because of it. Do not tell me what to feed my children. Obese is in the genes and has nothing to do with what they eat. How do you know if my children is overwieght anyways? For all you know they aren't. I am being productive right now as I am searching the web for a job and study for school.
Posted by: Shakeela | July 10, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I am insecure because you are black or educated? You are the one who mentioned that you are working on your GED. That would imply that you haven't had a high school education. Also, if you are so educated then why have all of your posts been riddled with mistakes? Either it's the education or you are flustered.
Obesity has NOTHING to do with what you eat? Then how come when some people eat more they gain weight and when they eat less and exercise, they lose weight? Never said once that your kids are overweight.
Productive studying while talking on the internet.
Posted by: Red | July 10, 2009 at 11:55 AM
The racism and intolerance shown in comments from Shakeelais are astounding. So much for “Christian values” of the religious right. What a joke, they must be all good little southern republican lemmings.
Posted by: Jay Kenney | July 10, 2009 at 12:17 PM
The racism and intolerance shown in the comments about Shakeelais’ comment are astounding. So much for “Christian values”. What a joke, they must be all good little southern republican lemmings.
Posted by: Jay Kenney | July 10, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Dearest Shakeela,
That little girl from Davis Islands should've run over you instead. Stop wasting my tax money.
Posted by: Tim Ward | July 10, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Me thinks Shakeela is the mighty whitey playing a hoax.
Posted by: Scott | July 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Shakeela, I have read all your comments on this story and the chick-fil-a story as well...How about this for a thought? - Get off your government funded computer, stop wasting your time, and GET A JOB! Did you ever think that you're unemployed because you're posting comments on these stories instead of filling out applications and going to job interviews? I have found this to be a much more effective method of a job search. Just a thought.
Posted by: Hil | July 10, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Ya know Scott I would truly LOVE that!
Posted by: Florida girl | July 10, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Ok - I really have no sympathy for you because you have 4 kids - because GUESS WHAT??? Birth control is free to people like you. And before you pull out your everpresent racist card - By "people like you" I mean lazy, government funded people who would rather blog about how bad things are than take charge and do what they must to survive.
Did I mention BIRTH CONTROL IS FREE?? Get some soon!
Posted by: Char | July 10, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Birth Control maybe free but the goverment gives you more money for each child! They probably all have different fathers too!
Posted by: Florida girl | July 10, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Jay - I am in no way a Republican. I just think ignorance is the downfall of everything. If you really think WE are being racist and rude - go read some of her other comments at the chik-fil-a story... you may be happy to know that once she FINALLY gets off her government funded computer she will be treating herself to a day at the spa and a nice lunch. Very "Christian" like isn't to wast other peoples money.
Posted by: Char | July 10, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Shakeela is certainly a neo-con playing a game. If you are too stupid to see through the game then the jokes on you!
This article provides good information. Thank you!
Posted by: Just an American | July 10, 2009 at 01:32 PM
I can't believe these comments I am seeing.
Posted by: Rudy Mann | July 10, 2009 at 01:32 PM
We have to be careful with percentages and statistics. Just like in the Educational system there is lots of room for skewing facts. In the education system, a dyslexic child may
have to move ("for other reasons")in order to make the fist school look better and not deal with exta costs involved with teaching a dyslexic child.
I can see the same kind of thing happening in order for a hospital
to look good.
Posted by: Tina | July 10, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Wow. This skinny white girl who has a college degree and a full-time job thinks all you people out there busting on shakeela are the ones who are truly ignorant. How disgusting. Got to love the republican white male southern mentality. I wonder how many of you are red necks... Get off Shakeela. She is entitled to her opinion. Shakeela, I'm sorry you have to deal with these idiots. Keep doing the best you can in life. God bless you.
Posted by: Rayanne | July 10, 2009 at 01:36 PM
I know I will get blasted for saying this, but Shakeela, you are exactly what is right with America. People like you who are just trying to get by are the lifeblood of our society. Don't let these people get you down. You keep trying to improve yourself. Get your GED and you'll be able to get a good job one day and provide for your family.
To those who post negatively against her, you should apologize! We do not know anything about this young lady and her situation. To base opinions on her and jump to conclusions shows you all tend to stereotype certain people. That is wrong! Have an open mind and see all the good that she does. This is a human being and a mother.
Posted by: Ms. Smith | July 10, 2009 at 01:40 PM
This little girl posting here and getting everybody's pants up in a wad likely rides the short bus if you know what I mean...
Posted by: R | July 10, 2009 at 01:45 PM