... thatseemunrelatedtocardiovasculardiseaseandheartattack.1Researchhasconsistentlyshownthatwomenfareworsethanmenin the treatmentofcommoncardiovasculardiseases;theyaremorelikelytoexperiencedelaysincare; and theyarelesslikelytoreceiverecommendedpreventive and follow‐upcarethantheirmalecounterparts.2,3,4Inadditiontocardiovascularcare and bone and joint health, Healthgradesalsoevaluatespatientoutcomesinmaternitycare and gynecologicproceduresforacompleteviewof women’s uniquecareneeds.Formanywomen,hospitalizationduetochildbirthistheirfirstexperiencewithinpatientcare.Toensurethatmothers‐to‐be and theirfamiliesareabletomake the bestdecisionregardingtheircare,itisimportanttohavecomparativeinformationabout the qualitydifferencesthatexistamonghospitalmaternitycareprograms.For the firstpartofthisstudy,Healthgradesanalyzedin‐hospitalcomplication and mortalityratesamong16of the mostcommondiagnoses and proceduresamongwomen65 and older, and identified176of the nation’s4,783hospitalsthatexcelledin the treatmentofwomen.Healthgradesdesignatedthese176hospitalsas Women’s Health ExcellenceAwardhospitals.From2008to2010,ifallhospitalsperformedat the levelof Women’s Health ExcellenceAwardhospitalsacross the 16procedures and diagnosesstudied,anadditional39,450womencouldhavepotentiallysurvivedtheirhospitalization, and 19,062womencouldhaveavoidedamajorin‐hospitalcomplication.Comparedtopoor‐performinghospitals, Women’s Health ExcellenceAwardhospitalshad: ... ValveReplacementSurgeryPOTENTIALTOSAVELIVESComparedtopoor‐performinghospitals,hospitalsrecognizedwith the Healthgrades Women’s Health ExcellenceAwardhad:42%lowermortalityrateacrossninediagnoses and procedures17%lowercomplicationrateacrossfiveorthopedicproceduresIfallhospitalsnationwideperformedat the levelof the Healthgrades Women’s Health ExcellenceAwardhospitals:39,450 women’s livessaved(womenwhocouldhavepotentiallysurvivedtheirhospitalizations)19,062 women’s complicationsavoided(womenwhocouldhavepotentiallyavoidedamajorin‐hospitalcomplication)20©Copyright2012 Health Grades,Inc.Allrightsreserved.*DistinctioncannotbeusedwithoutaLicensingAgreementfrom Health Grades,Inc.Continued…DesignatedMarketAreaAwardRecipientsMaternityCare5‐StarHospitals2012* ... PAPinnacle Health System Harrisburg PA1©Copyright2012 Health Grades,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Healthgrades2012Trendsin Women’s Health inAmericanHospitals The 2012HealthgradesTrendsin Women’s Health inAmericanHospitalsreportevaluates the qualityofcareforwomenatU.S.hospitals.Eachyear,Healthgradesevaluatesgender‐specificoutcomesconcerningwomenforcardiovascularcare,bone and joint health, maternitycare, and gynecologicsurgery.Womenpresentauniquetreatmentchallengefor the healthcaresysteminalloftheseareas,whichspan the spectrumofcarethroughouta women’s lifetime.Womenoftenpresentwithheartconditionsatanolderagethanmen and maypresentwithnohistoryof the disease.Inaddition,womenmayhavelessspecificsymptoms...