University Hospital, which is the 505-bed regional referral center and Level One trauma center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was recently named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Watson Health (formerly Truven Health Analytics). 

This is the ninth time University Hospital has been recognized with this honor, which represents the collaborative teamwork of cardiovascular providers including members of the Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and cardiovascular colleagues in the Department of Surgery. 

The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study is an annual, objective, quantitative study that identifies the nation's best providers of cardiovascular care, based on publicly available data and a balanced look at clinical, operational, and financial performance metrics. Hospitals do not apply, and winners do not pay to market their honor. 

The analysis involved identifying hospitals that achieved superior clinical outcomes in several key performance areas, which include:

• Fewer patients with complications
• Higher 30-day survival rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Lower rates of patients who are re-admitted to the hospital after being released for treatment for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or coronary artery bypass grafting
• Shorter average lengths of hospitalization for coronary artery bypass grafting, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or percutaneous coronary intervention
• lower total costs per patient

Analysts who authored the study suggested that if all cardiovascular providers in the nation performed at the level of this year's honorees, it would result in saving more than 8,900 additional lives. They also stated that $1.4B in healthcare costs would be saved and nearly 3,700 more heart patients would be free of complications.

Resources:

• "University Hospital Named One of the Nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals,"  UW Health, December 13, 2017
• Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals Study, 2018 - 19th edition, released November 6, 2017

Photo caption: Clockwise from top right, the UW Hospital and Clinics, UW Medical Foundation Centennial Building, American Family Children's Hospital (AFCH) and Waisman Center are pictured in an aerial view of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus during an autumn sunset on Oct. 5, 2011. The photograph was made from a helicopter looking north. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)