Scripps La Jolla Named Among Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S.

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla has been named among the top 100 hospitals in the nation by the international business research firm Truven Health Analytics.

The 24th annual 100 Top Hospitals® list released today by Truven identified the best hospitals in the United States based on their overall organizational performance, including patient clinical care measures and business efficiency.

Appearing for the second consecutive year on the list, Scripps La Jolla was recognized in the large community hospitals category. Scripps La Jolla is the only hospital in San Diego County to make the prestigious list this year.

“We are proud to be cited as a top-performing hospital that delivers exceptional value to our patients and our community,” said Gary G. Fybel, chief executive of Scripps La Jolla. “It is an honor to be recognized for having systems in place that safeguard patients, produce superior outcomes and provide evidence-based treatments.”

The study, which was based on data from 2011 through 2015, found that hospitals on this year’s 100 Top Hospitals list had mortality index rates that were 23 percent better than non-winning peer group hospitals and complications index rates that were 17 percent better. Winning hospitals achieved these superior clinical outcomes while also incurring inpatient expenses that were 9 percent lower than their peers.

Extensive hospital evaluations

The Truven 100 Top Hospitals study is the most comprehensive, academically driven analysis of its kind. It uses independent, quantitative research to evaluate the performance of 2,740 short-term, acute care non-federal hospitals across the country. Truven researchers measure clinical and operational performance in 11 areas, using publicly available information from Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare website. Hospitals do not apply for consideration, and winners do not pay to market this honor. 

“The hospital industry’s ongoing transition from fee-for-service to value-based care appears to be bearing some positive results for both patients and payers,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics. “The magnitude of improvement we’ve observed over the last five years is greater than any other five-year period we’ve tracked.”

Truven Health Analytics, which is part of IBM’s Watson Health business, provides performance improvement solutions built on data integrity and advanced analytics to help guide hospitals, health systems, health plans, life sciences companies and other organizations in their decision-making processes.

Advances at Scripps La Jolla

Established in 1924 by Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla offers 444 licensed beds and a wide range of clinical, surgical and specialty services. In 2015, Scripps opened its Prebys Cardiovascular Institute at the Scripps La Jolla campus. The most advanced heart care center on the West Coast features world-class physicians, ground-breaking research and state-of-the-art technology. The tower houses two hybrid operating rooms, four cardiovascular operating rooms, 59 intensive care unit beds and 108 private inpatient rooms. In 2016, a new emergency and trauma center with 51 private beds opened in the institute’s ground floor. Also in 2016, a new outpatient clinic opened on the Scripps La Jolla campus, the John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion.

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