Cardiac, Vascular and Gastrointestinal Services
Cited in 8th Annual HealthGrades Study

Deaconess Medical Center has been nationally recognized for clinical excellence for cardiac, vascular and gastrointestinal services, according to a study released today by HealthGrades, the nation's leading provider of independent hospital ratings.

• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for overall cardiac services
• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for overall vascular services
• Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for overall GI services
• Ranked best in Washington for overall cardiac services
• Ranked best in Washington for overall vascular services

“Our team is committed to continually improving the quality of care available to our patients and the Spokane community,” said Jeff A. Nelson, Empire Health Services CEO. “Recognition from an objective, independent source such as HealthGrades validates the exceptional care our physicians, nurses and staff provide every day.”
 
As part of its eighth annual Hospital Quality in America Study , HealthGrades independently analyzed nearly 5,000 hospitals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for its 2006 ratings, objectively assessing their clinical outcomes and quality. The data utilized in the assessment is licensed from the federal government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The HealthGrades ratings measure whether patient outcomes for each of more than two dozen procedures and diagnoses are better than expected (5-Star), as expected (3-Star) or worse than expected (1-Star).

“HealthGrades objectively rates hospitals' performance to help consumers make better health care choices, and it's clear that Deaconess Medical Center provides outstanding cardiac, vascular and GI care. The people of Spokane should be secure knowing they have top-notch care in their own backyard," said Samantha Collier, MD, HealthGrades vice president of medical affairs.