Contributed by Carolyn Wyllie-Bronson Corporate Communications
KALAMAZOO (MICHIGAN) – Bronson Methodist Hospital is proud to be named by Fortune and IBM® Watson Health® as one of the nation’s leading cardiovascular hospitals. The annual Fortune/IBM 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study released on November 17, 2020, recognizes a select group of top-performing hospitals across the nation that are delivering high-quality care to a broad spectrum of cardiology patients.
This is not an award that hospitals apply for. Rather, it is determined by a study that evaluated 980 U.S. hospitals with cardiovascular service lines using a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical, operational, and patient satisfaction metrics and data.
Bronson President and CEO Bill Manns says, “Being named one of the 50 top hospitals in the country is a tribute to the skill and teamwork of so many people at Bronson Methodist Hospital and across our healthcare system. In particular, it highlights the tremendous clinical achievements of our regional cardiovascular program led by the teams at Bronson Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialists and Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare. Their commitment to quality has resulted in more patients in our primary service area choosing Bronson for inpatient cardiac care than any other hospital.”
Compared to similar U.S. cardiovascular hospitals, those named as 2021 Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals had better results in clinical outcomes, clinical processes, operational efficiency and financial performance across four major cardiac conditions:
· Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
· Coronary artery bypass graft (heart surgery)
· Percutaneous coronary intervention (cardiac catheterization)
· Heart failure
Alphonse DeLucia III, M.D., a surgeon with Bronson Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialists and Medical Director for Cardiac Surgery at Bronson, says, “It’s not just that we have skilled cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists, it’s that we have developed incredible teamwork with cardiology, the emergency department, anesthesia, nursing, rehab, pharmacy, hospitalists, intensivists, primary care providers and many others who care for patients with cardiac conditions. We’re able to address more than just the current medical issue as we partner with our patients to understand the effects it could have on their health 10-20 years down the road.”
Douglas Wunderly, M.D., a cardiologist with Bronson Advanced Cardiac Healthcare and Medical Director of Cardiology, adds, “At Bronson, our teams provide personalized care while following the most current national standards to ensure everything we do is appropriate and evidence-based. The findings of this study verify that the cardiac care we deliver at Bronson Methodist Hospital is among the best in the nation. And, that’s outstanding news for the many individuals with cardiac conditions in southwest Michigan who are looking for the care they need, close to home.”
For more information on cardiovascular services and providers at Bronson, visit bronsonhealth.com.
For more information on the 2021 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals, visit https://www.ibm.com/watson-health/services/100-top-hospitals.
About the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals Study
The Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study uses independent and objective research to analyze cardiovascular hospital performance in clinical and operational areas addressing inpatient and 30-day mortality, patient complications, 30-day readmission, average length of stay, 30-day episode-of-care payment, and adjusted cost per case, for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and heart failure (HF) patients. The study has been conducted annually since 1998.
About IBM Watson Health
IBM Watson Health is a data, analytics, and technology partner for the health industry. Supported by the innovation of IBM and intelligence of Watson, we are committed to helping build smarter health ecosystems. Through the combination of our deep industry expertise in health, data and analytics, actionable insights, and reputation for security and trust, Watson Health is working together with its clients and partners to help them achieve simpler processes, better care insights, faster breakthroughs, and improved experiences for people around the world. Learn more at https://www.ibm.com/watson-health.