• Developed an effective organization-wide culture of performance improvement;
• Generated directionally correct, consistent organizational improvement over five years at a significantly faster rate than their peers.

The study grouped hospitals into five comparison categories: Major Teaching Hospitals, Teaching Hospitals, Large Community Hospitals, Medium Community Hospitals and Small Community Hospitals. Within each comparison group, hospitals were ranked on the basis of their performance in each of nine performance measures: Risk-adjusted mortality index, Risk-adjusted complications index; Risk-adjusted patient safety index; Severity-adjusted average length of stay; Expense per adjusted discharge, case-mix and wage-adjusted; Profitability (operating profit margin); Cash to total debt ratio; Tangible assets (net plant, property and equipment) per adjusted discharge; and Growth in percent of community served.

For more information about the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders study, visit www.100tophospitals.com.