Huntsville Hospital is in Truven Health Analytics’ “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals” in the nation. CONTRIBUTED

HUNTSVILLE – Truven Health Analytics has named Huntsville Hospital in its “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals” in the nation.

Huntsville Hospital was the only hospital in Alabama to be included in Truven’s Top 50 list for 2016. “Modern Healthcare” magazine recently announced the winning hospitals.

David Spillers, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Health System, said inclusion in the Top 50 hospitals “is one of the most significant recognitions that Huntsville Hospital has ever received. The hospitals on this list are the best of the best when it comes to quality of care.”

“Credit for this recognition goes to our outstanding cardiovascular team of physicians, nurses and other cardiac professionals who deliver such great care to our patients. We are very proud of them,” Spillers said.

Now in its 17th year, Truven Health’s study singled out 50 hospitals that achieved superior clinical outcomes in the critical area of hospital care. Like Truven Health’s “100 Top Hospitals” study, the scrutiny for cardiovascular winners involved rigorous processes that Truven Health scientists have maintained during many years.

Truven Health’s study for the “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals” measures performance in risk-adjusted mortality and complications; percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use; 30-day mortality rates; 30-day readmission rates; average length of stay adjusted by severity; and average cost adjusted by wage and severity.

For the study, Truven Health researchers analyzed 2013 and 2014 Medicare data, 2014 Medicare cost reports and 2015 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data.

According to Truven, this study showed that, if all cardiovascular providers in the United States performed at the level of this year’s winners, approximately 8,000 additional lives could be saved. In addition, about 3,500 more heart patients could be complication-free and more than $1.3 billion could be saved.

For more information on this study, visit 100tophospitals.com. For information about Huntsville Hospital, visit huntsvillehospital.org.