Scripps Hospitals Ranked as ‘Top Performer on Key Quality Measures’ Recognition from The Joint Commission

Scripps Health today was named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.

Scripps was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes shown to improve care in the areas of heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care.

“Scripps is proud to receive the distinction of being a Joint Commission “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “We understand that what matters most to patients at Scripps is safe, effective care. That’s why Scripps has made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes.”

Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Mercy Hospital (San Diego and Chula Vista) were included in the 1,099 hospitals in the United States that earned the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance. The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2012 calendar year.

Scripps and each of the hospitals that were named as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures must:

• Achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures.
• Achieve performance of 95 percent or above on every reported accountability measure where there are at least 30 denominator cases.
• Obtain at least one core measure set that has a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and within that measure set all applicable individual accountability measures have a performance rate of 95 percent or above. (A 95 percent score means a hospital provided an evidence-based practice 95 times out of 100 opportunities.)

Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – examples include giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics one hour before surgery, or providing a home management plan of care for children with asthma.

“Scripps Health and all the Top Performer hospitals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality improvement and they should be proud of their achievement,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission. “We have much to celebrate this year. Nearly half of our accredited hospitals have attained or nearly attained the Top Performer distinction. This truly shows that we are approaching a tipping point in hospital quality performance that will directly contribute to better health outcomes for patients.”

In addition to being included in today’s release of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, Scripps will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website. The Top Performer program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.