By Kelley Weiss
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-638300.mp3
Kansas City, MO – A 2007 University of HealthSystem Consortium national study puts the University of Kansas Hospital among the best medical centers for patient care. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.
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The study ranked KU Hospital in the top five academic medical centers for patient safety and quality of care - a few years ago KU was 33rd. The study rates hospitals based on different measures like number of patient deaths, use of science based medical practices and reducing health care disparities.
University HealthSystem Consortium vice president, Dr. Mark Keroack, says KU's success in improving quality meant some of the best results for patients in the country.
Mark Keroack: "There is a lower death rate and a lower rate of complications than there are in more average university hospitals."
Keroack says UHC's survey recognizes patient care and is not about prestige. But, he says, KU's rank probably won't hurt its $800 million research campaign or its work to get a national cancer designation. Some other hospitals ranked in the top five - the Mayo Clinic and Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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