Contact: Scott Samples, Marketing Communications Manager
Phone: (772) 223-4920
Email: scott.samples@martinhealth.org   

STUART, Fla., Feb. 25, 2013 – For the fourth year in a row and the eighth year overall, Martin Health System has been named one of the Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals in the United States.

The study, formerly conducted by Thomson Reuters, has been conducted annually since 1993. In that time, only 34 hospitals have won the award eight times or more – approximately 1 percent of the total hospitals surveyed – including just five from Florida.

“This award is a testament to our entire workforce, including affiliated physicians, associates and volunteers who focus on providing exceptional care each and every day,” said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive officer of Martin Health System. “Earning this honor four consecutive years demonstrates their continued dedication and commitment to excellence. We are grateful to each individual who made this award possible.”

Martin Health was one of 20 winners in the Large Community Hospitals category (250 or more acute care beds in service and not classified as a teaching hospital). Martin Health was among nine hospitals in Florida to earn recognition, and the only Treasure Coast hospital.

To determine the 100 Top Hospitals, Truven Health Analytics looked at nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide and selected award winners based on overall organizational performance. The study uses objective research and independent public data to recognize the best U.S. hospitals. Hospitals do not apply and winners do not pay to market this honor.

The Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals study evaluates performance in 10 areas: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average patient stay; expenses; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and pneumonia.
To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Truven Health Analytics researchers evaluated 2,922 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information – Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data set.  According to Truven Health Analytics, if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

•        More than 164,000 additional lives could be saved.
•        Approximately 82,000 additional patients could be complication-free.
•        $6 billion could be saved.
•        The average patient stay would decrease by half a day.

If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

“The winners of the 100 Top Hospitals award have driven the national benchmarks higher every year for 20 years,” said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president at Truven Health Analytics. “The key to success in a tumultuous environment is visionary leadership that develops and maintains a hospital-wide culture of excellence that cuts across everything, from patient care to housekeeping to administration.”

About Martin Health System: Martin Health System is a not-for-profit, community-based health care organization that has served the region for more than 70 years. It offers a continuum of care including preventative, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, wellness and rehabilitation services. Its approximately 3,000 associates, 375 affiliated physicians and 900 volunteers provide care at 12 different locations serving Martin and St. Lucie counties. Martin Health is a seven-time winner of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Award, has twice been named a Thomson Reuters 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals award winner, and received designation as a National Employer of Choice designee for 2009 and 2010-11. To learn more, visit martinhealth.org.