Specialty Excellence AwardTM Methodology 2007 4
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Orthopedic
The Orthopedic specialty area rating is based on:
·
Total knee replacement
·
Total hip replacement
·
Partial hip replacement
·
Hip fracture repair
·
Back and neck surgery (except spinal fusion)
·
Back and neck surgery (spinal fusion)
The star average for these medical issues is a weighted star average. To receive a rating in this specialty
area, a hospital had to have star ratings in five of the six medical issues based on MedPAR data.
Pulmonary
The Pulmonary specialty area rating is based on:
·
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
·
Community acquired pneumonia
The star rating for these procedures and diagnoses is determined by evenly weighting the individual
mortality star ratings (inhospital mortality, inhospital + 1 month mortality, and inhospital + 6 month mortality).
The Pulmonary rating is a weighted average of the procedures and diagnoses star ratings. To receive a
rating in this specialty area, a hospital had to have star ratings in both medical issues based on MedPAR
data.
Stroke
The Stroke service area rating is based on one medical issue: stroke. To receive a rating in this service
area, a hospital had to have a transfer-out rate of less than 10 percent in the most recent year used (2004
for all-payer data, 2005 for Medicare data). The Stroke service area rating is a weighted star average for
stroke, for inhospital mortality, inhospital +1 month mortality, and inhospital +6 month mortality.
Vascular
The Vascular specialty area rating is based on:
·
Resection/replacement of abdominal aorta
·
Carotid endarterectomy
·
Peripheral vascular bypass
We first calculate the overall star rating for resection/replacement of abdominal aorta by averaging the
inhospital mortality, inhospital +1 month mortality, and inhospital +6 month mortality ratings. The Vascular
rating is a weighted star average of the overall resection/replacement of abdominal aorta rating, plus carotid
endarterectomy and peripheral vascular bypass. To receive a rating in this specialty area, a hospital had to
have star ratings in all three medical issues based on MedPAR data.
