Scripps Health Named Among Top 15 Health Systems in Nation - 2016

Scripps only Southern California health system to be recognized

Scripps Health Named Top 15 Health Systems in Nation 2016

Scripps only Southern California health system to be recognized

Scripps Health has been named among the 15 top health systems in the nation by the international business research firm Truven Health Analytics. This is Scripps’ fourth appearance on the Top 15 Health Systems list. Scripps is the only health care system in Southern California to make the list this year.


“We are honored to be named to this prestigious list for the fourth time and to be recognized for providing the highest standards of excellence and care to patients,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health. “This distinction is a direct reflection of the safe, exceptional and compassionate care that our physicians, nurses and staff deliver every day to our patients.”

The Truven Health Analytics study analyzed data from 338 health systems and 2,912 member hospitals and singled out the top 15 health care systems based on balanced systemwide clinical and administrative performance. The five performance domains measured were inpatient outcomes, process of care, extended outcomes, efficiency and patient experience.


The 15 Top Health Systems study is part of the 100 Top Hospitals® program at Truven Health Analytics – of which Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was recently named to for the first time.

Key findings

Winning health systems achieved higher survival rates and fewer errors at a lower overall treatment cost than non-winning health systems. Specifically, overall mortality rates were 14.7 percent lower for winning health systems versus non-winning peer group hospitals; complication rates were 15.1 percent lower; and emergency department wait times were 12.3 percent lower.


“These 15 top-performing health systems prove that quality and efficiency can improve across entire systems, regardless of their size,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Truven Health Analytics. "It is clear from our data that many hospital systems have been able to implement a consistent, coordinated approach to quality improvement in the areas that matter most to patients and that is scalable across member hospitals.”

Other metrics

Additional winning health system performance metrics include:


  • Lower cost per episode: The 15 Top Health System winners spent 5 percent less per care episode than non-winning peer systems.
  • Shorter hospital stays: The top health systems discharged patients from the hospital a half-day sooner than non-winners.
  • Higher patient satisfaction scores: Winning health systems attained average Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores that were 7 percentage points higher than non-winning peers.


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

Media Contact

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