Association of US News top ranking for gastroenterology, GI surgical procedures with outcomes
Editor's Note
Though the annual volume of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal (GI) advanced laparoscopic abdominal surgical procedures is three-fold higher for US News & World Report’s top-ranked hospitals, the volume does not appear to be associated with improved patient outcomes, this study finds.
In this analysis of 51,869 abdominal procedures, the annual case volume was 397 at top-ranked hospitals and 114 at nonranked hospitals.
No statistically significant differences were found in serious morbidity (0.04% vs 0.07%) or in-hospital mortality (1.06% vs 1.02%) between the two cohorts.
Procedures performed at top-ranked hospitals had higher mean costs ($7,128 vs $7,742) and longer mean lengths of stay (2.38 vs 2.73 days).
Results show that a high ranking for gastroenterology and GI surgical procedures by the US News & World Report is not a good proxy for the quality of surgical care for common advanced laparoscopic GI surgical procedures, the authors say.
Free Daily News
- FDA: Surgical mesh mini-slings comparable to mid-urethral slings for stress urinary incontinence
- Federal regulations require written consent for pelvic exams at hospitals, medical schools
- Survey: More than half of ED nurses experienced violence in past month
- Heart transplant research proves out 24-hour organ preservation method
- Healthcare safety report: Outcomes improving, but workplace violence persists
- Annual CMS rules support underserved, under-resourced communities, promote value-based care
- Data resource details causes, health implications of sleep deprivation
- Medical error initiative from Joint Commission affiliate NQF targets preventable harm, “never events”
- EPA rule to limit dangerous emissions from medical sterilization plants
- Newly FDA-approved microsurgical system holds promise for training, new treatments