web1_Shane-AngleCMYK.jpg

Local Roundup: Crestwood’s Shane Angle finished 15th at state golf tournament

web1_BLOTTER.jpg

Woman from Glen Lyon killed in Hazleton crash

<p>Luzerne County&#8217;s three hospitals generally fared well in a new report on patient outcomes, but Wilkes-Barre General had higher-than-projected mortality rates for four conditions in 2016.</p><p>The River Street facility had &#8220;significantly higher than expected&#8221; mortality rates for patients admitted for heart attack-angioplasty/stent; kidney and urinary tract infection problems; pneumonia-aspiration; and sepsis, according to the annual report issued by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.</p><p>A written statement provided by communications coordinator Lindsey Fredricks noted &#8220;our internal mortality data at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital does not match with the data reported by PHC4, an ongoing problem which we are trying to resolve. PHC4 is aware of our concerns and has assigned a data analyst to work with us to resolve this issue.&#8221;</p><p>PHC4 is an independent state agency tasked with monitoring health care costs, quality of care and access. The yearly &#8220;Hospital Performance Report&#8221; looked at outcomes for 16 different medical conditions and surgical procedures for inpatient adults 18 years and older from October 2015 to September 2016.</p><p>The data is adjusted through a &#8220;complex mathematical formula&#8221; to adjust for high-risk patients who can otherwise skew results, particularly in areas with large elderly populations like Luzerne County.</p><p>Among other things, the report looks at mortality rates and the average hospital charge for the reviewed conditions, and at readmission rates for some of them. It notes if mortality and readmission rates are not significantly different from expected rates, or if they are significantly higher or significantly lower.</p><p>For Luzerne County&#8217;s three hospitals &#8212; Wilkes-Barre General, Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Lehigh Valley-Hazleton &#8212; the majority of results did not vary significantly from the expected rates.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre General had the most conditions with rates higher than expected. Lehigh Valley-Hazleton had a higher-than-expected readmission rate for heart failure. The written statement stressed the report &#8220;is just one of many data tools developed to assist consumers in choosing health care providers and should be used as a means to initiate a conversation with a physician regarding health care choices. No important care choices should be based solely on this report.&#8221;</p><p>Lehigh Valley also had a lower-than-expected rate of readmission for sepsis. In a written response included in the report, Associate Medical Director Barbara Vilushis said the hospital was &#8220;very pleased with the results of the report,&#8221; noting a &#8220;multidisciplinary team&#8221; has been assembled to reduce the readmission rate for heart failure.</p><p>Geisinger Wyoming Valley had three cases where the rates were lower than expected: Mortality rates for infectious pneumonia and sepsis, and readmission rate for sepsis.</p><p>Geisinger Corporate Communications Specialist Megan Sobieski issued a written statement touting the health system&#8217;s successes at most hospitals reflected in the data. The statement also noted the two instances where rates were higher than expected &#8212; kidney/urinary tract infections at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at Geisinger Bloomsburg &#8212; are &#8220;now within the expected range&#8221; following changes since the 2016 data was first seen.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PHC4-10-24-2917.pdf">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/PHC4-10-24-2917.pdf</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_PHC4-10-24-2917.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_PHC4-10-24-2917.jpg</photo1><caption1></caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Hospital disputes data</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Report: W-B General has ‘higher than expected’ mortality in four areas