RUMC Makes 2009 New York State Hospital Report Card Honor Roll

Each year, the New York State Hospital Report Card recognizes hospitals that perform above the state’s average on specific measures by listing the facility on its Honor Roll.

The Honor Roll consists of hospitals who have treated at least 30 cases, and whose risk-adjusted mortality rate is statistically lower than the state average mortality rate using a 95 percent confidence interval on a given indicator.

Richmond University Medical Center appears in the Honor Roll for exceeding state averages in treating postoperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in an artery of the lungs. It is usually produced by foreign matter in the bloodstream, most often a blood clot originating in a vein of the leg or pelvis. This may occur after an operation or confinement to a bed. Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of death in hospitalized people who must remain in bed for a long time.

DVT is a condition marked by the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a deep vein, usually in the leg or pelvis. These clots may then travel through blood vessels and then cause an obstruction in blood flow to a body organ. For example, when the blood flow to the heart is interrupted, a heart attack may occur.

This patient safety indicator is intended to identify deep blood clots in the lungs or legs, following surgery. The indicator is used to reveal complications of surgery or other invasive procedures.

Hospitals displaying a lower than expected, or as expected rate on this measure – like Richmond University Medical Center – have employed effective techniques for prevention of this complication.   

RUMC exceeds many expectations in the state report on hospital-acquired infections.

The New York State Department of Health recently released a comprehensive report on hospital-acquired infections. Richmond University Medical Center’s numbers are lower than the state averages for the second year in a row. The report concentrated on surgical-site infections and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABS).

RUMC has significantly lowered central line-associated bloodstream infections in its intensive care units by employing a collaborative effort in all aspects of patient care. The hospital has strived to eradicate such infections. In the Coronary Intensive Care, Surgical Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care units, RUMC had no infections.

The report also looked at infections related to colon and hip surgeries. In 2008, RUMC identified no surgical site infections for hip surgeries.

“This report is a clear indication that the efforts hospitals continue to make to prevent and control infections are having a positive impact on patient care,” said Daniel Sisto, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS).

“Richmond University Medical Center has made a commitment to high quality patient care and patient safety,” said Richard Murphy, President and CEO of the hospital. “We are pleased that our prevention programs are yielding such good results and we will continue to work toward further improvement.”

The hospital is staffed with professionals who are highly trained in infection control and who are knowledgeable about current infection trends and apply the most up-to-date methods to prevent, treat, document and track infections.