IBM Watson HealthTM has named Salem Hospital as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals for 2020. The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™ study is in its 21st year. This is the fifth time — and third year in a row — Salem Hospital has been recognized with this honor.

The 2020 Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study identifies top-performing cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S. using independent and objective research to analyze a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical, operational and patient satisfaction metrics and data.

Hospitals were scored in key value-based performance areas:

• Risk-adjusted inpatient mortality and complications
• Percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use
• 30-day risk-adjusted mortality and readmission rates
• Severity-adjusted average length of stay
• Wage- and case mix- adjusted average cost per case
• 30-day episode payment measures
• Adjusted operating profit margin (new this year)

“Salem Health’s cardiovascular team delivers excellent patient outcomes at a lower cost,” said Joshua Franke, director of cardiovascular services at Salem Health. “Strong relationships across the spectrum of care — from provider to nurse to patient navigator — make this possible. At Salem Health, we work as a team and it pays off.”

If all cardiovascular providers in the U.S. performed at the level of this year's winners (based on Medicare patients only), results industry-wide could amount to over 11,000 additional lives saved, $1.5 billion saved and 2,800 additional heart patients could be complication-free.

“By finding ways to continuously improve and innovate, the winners of our 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study are identifying opportunities to deliver health care value to patients, communities, and payers,” said Ekta Punwani, MHA, 100 Top Hospitals® program leader at IBM Watson Health. “The top performing hospitals demonstrated better clinical care and were more efficient than their peers at delivering this care.”

The winning hospitals were announced in an IBM press release on Nov. 19, 2019. IBM Watson Health produces three national benchmarking reports annually including its 15 Top Health Systems, 100 Top Hospitals, and 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. For more information, visit www.100tophospitals.com.

About Salem Health. Salem Health offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Visit us at www.salemhealth.org; “Like” us on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at www.youtube.com/salemhealth. 

Media contact: Salem Health 24-hour media relations line — 971-718-3157