NorthShore University HealthSystem Receives Highest Possible Rating in Updated Hospital Compare Quality Rankings 

12/22/2017 – NorthShore University HealthSystem received 5 stars, the highest possible rating, in updated quality rankings posted by the government as part of its consumer-oriented Hospital Compare program.

The ratings are based on 53 quality measures on Hospital Compare and are designed to help consumers make informed decisions about their health care. More than 4,000 hospitals are assessed and the national average is 3 stars.

Hospitals were rated in seven categories: mortality, readmission, safety of care, patient experience, efficient use of medical imaging, timeliness of care and effectiveness of care. Data from all four NorthShore hospitals (Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie) factor into the ratings. 

“We are extremely proud to be recognized for the high quality of care we provide at NorthShore and the great emphasis we place on patient safety and experience,” said Lakshmi Halasyamani, MD, Chief Quality & Transformation Officer. “It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of NorthShore staff throughout the system.”

Among the main categories, NorthShore scored above the national average in mortality, safety of care, patient experience and efficient use of medical imaging. The assessment specifically recognized NorthShore for improvement in patient satisfaction surveys (or HCAHPS, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) and reduced rates of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) cases.

Hospital Compare was created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to help patients and their families learn about the quality of hospitals, compare facilities in their area side-by-side, and ask important questions about care quality. The overall rating summarizes dozens of quality measures and shows how well each hospital performed, on average, compared to other hospitals in the U.S.

The 5-star rating for NorthShore comes on the heels of the launch of NorthShore 20/20, a three-year initiative that will develop new strategies to continue elevating healthcare delivery while also driving down costs. Four cross-functional work teams have been formed that will develop strategies and implementation tactics to achieve transformational outcomes for NorthShore. And a Transformation Management Office (TMO) has been created to facilitate strategy development, planning and execution of the NorthShore 20/20 priorities.

“NorthShore 20/20 represents a significant commitment to improving the delivery of healthcare and making it more efficient,” said Dr. Halasyamani. “While it’s nice to be recognized by CMS for the care we currently provide, our work continues.”

CMS indicated the star rating system is updated quarterly, and it will incorporate new measures as they are publicly reported on the website as well as remove measures retired from the quality reporting programs.