Cape hospitals receive awards

Southeast Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center both have received numerous awards from HealthGrades, the leading independent health care ratings organization. The HealthGrades study, an analysis of patient outcomes in the nation's 5,000 hospitals, reviewed patient records from the most current federal governmental data from 2008 to 2010. This research is the only comprehensive analysis of its kind focused on how well hospitals provide effective and appropriate patient care.

Southeast Hospital ranks among the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for patient satisfaction for the second consecutive year.

HealthGrades also gives the hospital high marks for patient care in its 2011 "Healthcare Consumerism and Hospital Quality in America" report issued last week. Southeast Hospital has received the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for four years in a row. Southeast Hospital received the following HealthGrades awards:

* Among the top five in Missouri for coronary interventional procedures for two years in a row.

* Five-star rated for coronary interventional procedures.

* Among the top 10 in Missouri (currently No. 9) for overall orthopedic services for two consecutive years.

* Five-star rated for hip fracture treatment for two years in a row.

* Five-star rated for treatment of stroke for four consecutive years.

* Among the top four in Missouri for vascular surgery and in the top five for two years in a row.

* Five-star rated for carotid surgery for four consecutive years.

Saint Francis Medical Center received the following HealthGrades awards:

* Recipient of the HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award for three years in a row

* Recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award for three years in a row

* Ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for overall orthopaedic services in 2012

* Ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for joint replacement for two years in a row

* Recipient of the HealthGrades Prostatectomy Excellence Award in 2012

* Ranked among the top 10 percent in the nation for prostatectomy in 2012

* Ranked among the top 10 in Missouri for overall cardiac services in 2012

* Ranked among the top five in Missouri for cardiac surgery for two years in a row

* Ranked among the top 10 in Missouri for orostatectomy in 2012

Saint Francis Medical Center also received a five-star rating, which means its clinical performance is better than expected, in these areas:

* Coronary bypass surgery for two years in a row

* Overall orthopaedic services for three years in a row

* Joint replacement for three years in a row

* Spine surgery in 2012

* Total knee replacement for three years in a row

* Total hip replacement for four years in a row

* Hip fracture treatment for three years in a row

* FBack and neck surgery (spinal fusion) in 2012

* Prostatectomy in 2012

HealthGrades reports that patients nationwide, on average, were 63 percent less likely to experience in-hospital complications at five-star hospitals than patients at one-star hospitals and had a 43 percent less chance of developing a medical complication while hospitalized.