In a new index that ranks hospitals by value, twelve hospitals in Middle Tennessee – stretching from Clarksville to Tullahoma – ranked in the top quarter of the country. Absent from the list is the region’s teaching hospital, Vanderbilt Medical Center.
The nation’s top quartile includes non-profits like Baptist and community hospitals like Maury Regional.
The Nashville-based health care analysis firm Data Advantage compiled the rankings of more than 4,500 hospitals. John Morrow helped design the system and says the best value for patients isn’t necessarily at the highest-profile hospitals.
“They’re not always who you think they might be. They’re not always the big brand. They’re often the community hospital that’s serving a smaller, rural or even a suburban market.”
Morrow says value may become important in relation to health care overhaul. The Senate Finance Committee’s plan currently ties part of Medicare reimbursement to hospital performance. It’s called a value-based purchasing system.
Data Advantage has called for a summit later this year for top quartile hospitals in value to share best practices.
See a map of the hospitals and their rankings by clicking here.
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