BOISE, Idaho — IBM Watson Health has named two local health systems in the top 15 in the nation. This is the seventh year in a row St. Luke's has been on the list and the first for St. Alphonsus. No other city in the country has two health systems on the list.
According to a press release, being on the list several times in a row is rare, and seven in a row is nearly unheard of. IBM Watson Health has stringent standards, and St. Luke's is a relatively young health system when compared to others on the list, such as Baylor Scott & White Health.
“St. Luke’s dedicated and skilled staff and providers are committed to providing the highest quality and safest care possible,” said Dr. Bart Hill, St. Luke’s vice president and chief quality officer.
The 2020 15 Top Health Systems report evaluated 332 U.S. health systems and 2,492 hospitals that are members of those health systems. Using specific clinical and administrative performance metrics, IBM Watson Health concentrated on factors like patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, length of hospital stays, costs per episode of care, complications and lives saved.
The top-performing health systems:
· Had fewer patient complications and ultimately saved more lives.
· Provided faster emergency care.
· Sent patients home sooner.
· Had lower patient readmission rates.
· Scored higher on patient ratings of hospital experiences.
IBM Watson Health's award is different from others because the organization conducts its work independently. St. Luke's did not apply for consideration and winners do not pay to market their recognition.
Team members at St. Luke's have put an effort across hospitals and clinics to ensure a standardized approach so patients get the best care no matter which location they go to.
“You have helped prepare us for this moment. And to each of you responding to this pandemic today, we owe you our deepest gratitude for stepping into the roles of heroes,” Dr. Hill said.
The value of the 15 Top Health Systems study is that it provides hospital administrators with evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of leadership teams, organizational performance and management alignment. This research allows health systems to understand how they compare to peers and national benchmarks in terms of quality of care, operations and patient satisfaction.
The public data that IBM Watson Health evaluated includes Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare website. More information on this study and other 100 Top Hospitals research can be found here.
