Medicare’s oft-cited Hospital Compare Web resource now features a new mini-tool that allows you to quickly compare up to three mortality graphs on hospitals within a zip code range.
The results will show you 30-day death (mortality) rates for heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia. Yes, the data is risk-adjusted for balance.
Out of seven hospital choices, I chose to compare Galichia Heart Hospital, Via Christi Regional Medical Center and Wesley Medical Center, three acute-care hospitals/systems in Wichita with emergency departments. I am happy to report that all three hospital systems were very close to the national average and considered, statistically, “no different than the national rate.” However, it’s worth noting that both Galichia and Via Christi rates were consistently a few points better than the national average.