http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/99/105322.htm

This is very strange. Not one of the top 14 of the "Best Hospitals 2004" from USNews is anywhere to be found on the webmd list.

I wonder why?

No Johns Hopkins, Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, UCLA, etc.

What am I (or they) missing?

In looking at my state, all the hospitals listed were in the suburbs. No inner city hospital was listed. As I work in the inner city (in a large trauma center), I think I know why. My patients can't afford to be off work to be sick. Thus, they wait until they are at death's door before coming to the hospital. I realize this particular study focused on stroke, bypass and pneunomia(?). But, if you can't afford to be sick, you don't go to the doctor and by the time our patients come to the hospital they have concurrent medical issues which complicates the outcome.

I absolutely agree with you medpsychRN. I wonder if the study at medweb deliberately left out the US News hospitals? And why so many "good" hospitals in Florida?

I just think it's a bit of a flawed study unless somewhere in their methodology (which really isn't explained) they state that they left the hospitals that take the sickest of the sick out on purpose.

Anyway...

that was entertaining, haha!

Wow...that was strange. I live in Florida and I think the reason we have so many on the list is because there are so many hopsitals in Florida, reason being all the elderly that come and retire here from other states. :rotfl: j/k Seriously, though, I was surprised to see that Shands at the University of Florida was not listed. I did see the hospital that my 2nd child was born at made the list though :)

I second that Wow! I counted about 46 out of the 229 listed. Since I'm living in an area with a few hospitals with these good ratings, it does feel kind of comforting.

Kris

Wow...that was strange. I live in Florida and I think the reason we have so many on the list is because there are so many hopsitals in Florida, reason being all the elderly that come and retire here from other states. :rotfl: j/k Seriously, though, I was surprised to see that Shands at the University of Florida was not listed. I did see the hospital that my 2nd child was born at made the list though :)

There are a few on the list for my state that I wouldn't take my half dead guinea pig to.

There are a few on the list for my state that I wouldn't take my half dead guinea pig to.

snort.

there are 3 hospitals in my immediate area. 2 are with the same health system and are a magnet facility. not on this list. one is a level 1 trauma center-not on the list. the other is a womens/children's facilities that is the regional referral center for ill children, has the only nicu in this part of the state (next nearest is 2 hours from here), etc etc-not on the list

the hospital from here on the list is the small one, non trauma center, that is in the nicer area of town. maybe it does have to do with what the above poster said. the poor/non insurance patients go to the not on the list hospitals generally, and like you said, probably already have concurrent issues when they come in.

Mayo in Scottsdale is on the list. But agreee with some of the PP's The Florida hospital's that I know that made the list are questionable at best.(Flagler?) hahahhha Sorry

There is only one hospital in my area on the list (sf bay area). And actually this is a good hospital known for it's great patient care and excellent employer/employee relationships. It's a private non-profit community hospital and not a consistent teaching facility. It's the hospital that I chose to use in my own PPO.

But in the immediate area there are at least 2 hospitals that I can think of that are world renowned for their various specialties (including the specialties in the webmd study), and one hospital that is a national model for spinal cord and burn injuries that are not on the list.

I'm just so confused.

I think the webmd study is VERY misleading.

... and I don't think any children's hospitals made the list. It makes you wonder how they came up with that list.

llg

If you click on the link it states that it is only based on survival rates for 4 illnesses, 3 of which are heart related plus pneumonia. That might explain things...