CAPE GIRARDEAU — Saint Francis Medical Center has been named to the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list.
This is the first time Saint Francis has been recognized as one of the top-performing large community hospitals in the US and is the only large community hospital in Missouri to be honored.
IBM Watson Health has identified the top hospitals from a rigorous evaluation of 3,134 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals in the US. The annual list recognizes excellence in clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health. IBM Watson Health established the list to help identify best practices that may help other healthcare organizations achieve consistent, balanced and sustainable high performance. Of the 100 hospitals honored, only 20 large community hospitals are awarded.
“To be named one of the 2020 Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals is truly an honor,” said Dr. Maryann Reese, president and chief executive officer of Saint Francis Healthcare System. “This pinnacle of achievement not only spotlights our commitment to quality and safety but also how our patients and community value our care. It is further affirmation of the amazing work done by our physicians and colleagues who strive continuously to design exceptional patient care and outcomes.”
This recognition demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Saint Francis to prioritize patient-centered care, particularly during this disruptive and challenging time. According to IBM Watson Health, as compared to similar hospitals, the hospitals included on the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list had better results on key clinical and operational performance indicators. These include survival rates, patient complications, healthcare-associated infections, 30-day mortality and 30-day hospital-wide readmission rates, length of stay, throughput in emergency rooms, inpatient expenses, profitability and ratings from patients.
According to the Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals Study, 2020, if all hospitals in the nation achieved the performance benchmarks established by the 100 Top Hospitals, more than 106,000 additional lives could be saved in-hospital; over 49,000 additional patients could be complication-free; over $8.3 billion in inpatient costs could be saved; the typical patient could be released from the hospital a half-day sooner and emergency patients could spend 27 fewer minutes per visit; over 23,000 fewer discharged patients would be readmitted within 30 days.
“Hospitals, health systems and the dedicated clinicians and staff who work at these organizations have emerged as true heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful to be able to recognize these extraordinary leaders at this time,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, vice president and chief health officer, IBM Watson Health. “From small community hospitals to major teaching hospitals, organizations on this list demonstrate a relentless commitment to high value, patient-centered care and innovation. It is clear that the COVID-19 crisis will be a catalyst for reinvention, and we believe these top performing hospitals are positioned to emerge stronger and smarter out of this crisis.”
Hospitals cannot apply for or pay to market this recognition. The annual list was unveiled on Fortune.com. For more information, visit sfmc.net/Top100.