Genesis Heart Program Receives 3-star Ratings from UnitedHealthcare
DAVENPORT, IOWA - Heart care at Genesis Medical Center is developing its own constellation of quality.
Genesis has received the designation of “Three Stars and Higher Efficiency’’ from UnitedHealthcare in all three cardiac categories it considers — open-heart surgery, interventional cardiac care and rhythm disorder management. Genesis has also been designated a UnitedHealthcare Premium Cardiac Center.
Genesis is one of just two hospitals in Iowa to receive “Three Stars and Higher Efficiency’’ in all three categories and is the only regional hospital to receive the honor in even one of the categories.
The designations are a powerful message from UnitedHealthcare to consumers that Genesis Medical Center provides high quality cardiac care and cost efficiency. The designations indicate that Genesis also exceeds nationally recognized standards of care in data provided by the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
The Genesis heart surgery program also has received the highest rating of “Three Stars’’ from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
“Patients who receive cardiac care at Genesis, whether it is open-heart surgery or in the cardiac catheterization labs, receive a quality of care that is recognized nationally,’’ said Carole Reid, R.N., M.S.N., Vice President of Patient Services, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport. “The UnitedHealthcare three-star designation is further validation of the excellent heart care provided by Genesis on a daily basis.
“Genesis physicians, nurses and all of the staff of the heart team demonstrate commitment and teamwork that earn national recognition, but most importantly, provide high quality care and cost efficiency to our patients.”
The quality and cost efficiency measures in the UnitedHealthcare Premium program support UnitedHealthcare’s efforts to empower consumers to make informed health care decisions based on evidencebased quality and cost information.
Genesis was measured against quality and cost efficiency benchmarks to earn “Three Stars’’ recognition and UnitedHealthcare Premium recognition. Genesis met evidence-based criteria in several categories, including:
- Breadth of care
- Depth of care
- Staff experience
- Emergency care
- Quality and data management
- Cost of care
In the UnitedHealthcare assessment, Genesis scored 95 points of a possible 100 in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology and 90 points in rhythm disorders management. The Genesis cost efficiency rating was .88, or 88 percent of expected costs.
The “Three Stars’’ recognition is the second in 2007 for the Genesis cardiac care team. In July, the heart surgery program at Genesis received the highest composite rating available – three stars – from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The three-star rating was earned by approximately 15 percent of the 756 hospitals supplying data for calendar year 2006 to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
“The designations from both the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and UnitedHealthcare are a recognition of the comprehensive nature of our cardiac care,’’ Reid said. “The full scope of cardiac care available from Genesis is being recognized.’’
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