Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Named Top Performer

The Joint Commission, the powerful nonprofit that inspects and accredits hospitals in the United States, has for the first time compiled a list of the nation’s top hospitals. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was listed among the 405 hospitals recognized as a top performer on key quality measures.

In its 2011 annual report on quality and safety, “Improving America’s Hospitals,” The Joint Commission lists for the first time hospitals that are top performers in using evidence-based care processes closely linked to positive patient outcomes. The 405 organizations identified as attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for the full previous year (2010) represent approximately 14 percent of Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals that report core measure performance data.

“To be recognized by a accrediting body is a great reflection of the expertise and dedication of the physicians and staff at Scripps in caring for our patients,” said Gary G. Fybel, chief executive, senior vice president, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. “These data-driven results are proof that Scripps has achieved an exemplary level of performance on core quality measures that are proven to improve patient care and outcomes.”

The Joint Commission report singles out hospitals in 45 states. Scripps La Jolla and the VA San Diego Healthcare System were the only two San Diego facilities to make the list. The list of top performing hospitals and the measure set or sets for which the hospital was recognized are available online.

“Today, the public expects transparency in the reporting of performance at the hospitals where they receive care, and The Joint Commission is shining a light on the top performing hospitals that have achieved excellence on a number of vital measures of quality of care,” says Dr. Mark R. Chassin, president, The Joint Commission. “Hospitals that commit themselves to accreditation-related quality improvement efforts such as the use of evidence-based treatments create better outcomes for patients and, ultimately, a healthier nation.”

The Joint Commission’s sixth annual report, which presents scientific evidence of hospital performance and how it relates to common medical conditions and procedures, demonstrates continual improvement on accountability measures over a nine-year period. Quality, safety and patient satisfaction results for specific hospitals can be found at www.qualitycheck.org.

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