EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a two part series on information provided by the new Illinois Department of Public Health Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care recently made available to the public.



By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Late last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health unveiled its new Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care Web site.

Through the site, consumers can look up specific hospitals and compare quality, safety, satisfaction, services and staffing for not only those in one city, but those throughout the state. The report card provides an overview of the facilities, quality information, safety, satisfaction, service and staffing. Both local hospitals, Crossroads Community Hospital and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital are included in the report card.

Under satisfaction, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, a national, standardized survey of hospital patients is used to compile information. The survey uses a random sample of recently discharged patients and asks about aspects of their hospital experience.

For Crossroads Community Hospital the percent of patients reporting they were highly satisfied was 68 percent. Those saying the doctors always communicated well was 80 percent; nurses always communicated well was 77 percent; patients always received help as soon as they wanted was 59 percent; staff always explained about medicines was 61 percent; the pain was always well controlled was 68 percent; the patient’s room was always kept quiet at night was 60 percent; the patient’s room and bathroom was always kept clean was 76 percent; patients given information about recovery at home was 84 percent; and 71 percent of the patients surveyed responded they would definitely recommend the hospital to family and friends.

For St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, 64 percent of the patients reported they were highly satisfied with the service. Those saying doctors always communicated well was 82 percent; nurses always communicated well was 77 percent; patients always received help as soon as they wanted 63 percent; staff always explained about medicines was 58 percent; pain was always well controlled, 72 percent; patient’s room always kept quiet at night was 50 percent; patient’s room and bathroom always kept clean 68 percent; patients given information about recovery at home was 83 percent; and 66 percent of patients reported they would definitely recommend the hospital to friends and family.

The report card reports on patients, the median length of stay and the median charges for some procedures.

“IDPH used discharge data provided by the hospitals to calculate the length of stay and charge,” IDPH reported. “Your length of stay and billable amount may vary greatly; always consult your physician or patient advocate.”

The major diagnosis that are included in the report card are appendectomy, asthma, C-section, chest pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, gallbladder removal, heart failure, normal newborn, pneumonia and vaginal delivery.

Information included in the report card for both local hospitals:

Crossroads Community Hospital

Appendectomy, 11 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge at $37,496;

Asthma, 14 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge at $9,224;

C-section, not applicable;

Chest pain, 38 patients, with a median length of stay at one day and a median charge at $8,862;

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 21 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge at $12,512;

Diabetes — too few cases reported

Gallbladder removal, 25 patients, with a median length of stay at one day and a median charge at $36,117.90;

Heart Failure, 13 patients, with a median length of stay at three days and a median charge at $15,141;

Normal Newborn, not applicable;

Pneumonia, 34 patients, with a median length of stay at three days and a median charge at $18,759; and

Vaginal Delivery, not applicable.

At St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital:

Appendectomy, 38 patients, with a median length of stay at one day and a median charge of $18,246.50;

Asthma, 44 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge of $4,748.95;

C-Section, 240 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge of $10,174.65;

Chest Pain, 185 patients, with a median length of stay at one day and a median charge of $7.932.70;

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 90 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge of $8,336.25;

Diabetes, 15 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge at $5,618.70;

Gallbladder Removal, 49 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge at $17,580.30;

Heart Failure, 42 patients, with a median length of stay at three days and a median charge of $7,744.10;

Normal newborn, 659 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge of $1,145;

Pneumonia, 80 patients, with a median length of stay at 3.5 days and a median charge of $8,908.85; and

Vaginal Delivery, 527 patients, with a median length of stay at two days and a median charge of $5,259.80.

Under staffing, Cross-roads is a non-government for-profit facility with a total of 52 beds. Of the beds available, 47 are for medical and surgical and five are for intensive care. Hospital employed nurses are 95.63 percent, with 4.37 percent contract staff nurses. The percent of registered nurses nursing staff hours are at 70.66 percent; the percent of licensed practical nurse nursing staff hours at 7.99 percent; and the percent of nursing assistant staff hours at 21.35 percent.

St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital is listed as a non-government church-related facility with 134 total beds. Of the beds available, 99 of them are medical-surgical beds; 16 are intensive care beds; nine are OB/gynecology beds; and 10 are rehabilitation beds. Hospital employed nurses are 96.47 percent and contract staff nurses 3.53 percent. The percent of registered nurses nursing staff hours is 74.75 percent; the percent of licensed practical nursing staff hours is 7.19 percent; and the percent of nursing assistant staff hours is 18.06 percent.

Residents who want to compare hospitals may visit the Hospital Report Card Web site at www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov.