Catholic Healthcare Partners is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the U.S. With $4.76 billion in assets and headquartered in Cincinnati, CHP employs 36,500 associates in more than 100 healthcare facilities and senior living communities, including 32 hospitals serving the healthcare needs of people in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and contiguous states.

Michael Connelly, president and CEO of Catholic Healthcare Partners, said this is an important milestone in reaching CHP’s goal of excellence in healthcare. "We are proud to be recognized for our quality of care and efficiency. The results of this study affirm our system-wide approach to quality care, and are also a testament to the hard work, determination and the local healing touch that only our front-line caregivers can offer all who come through our doors."

Researchers from the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals analyzed quality and efficiency of 252 health systems across the country and found statistically significant differences between top and bottom performers in several key areas.

All U.S health systems with two or more short-term, general, non-federal hospitals were assessed. Researchers looked at five metrics that gauge clinical quality and efficiency: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay and adherence to clinical standards of care (evidence-based core measures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). The data studied is from 2006 and 2007.

"The Top 10 includes for-profit and not-for-profit health systems, religious and secular organizations, and facilities that differ in size, ownership structure and geographic distribution of member hospitals," said Dean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters. "This suggests that every type of health system has the potential to drive higher quality and health systems could become a powerful force for rapid improvement in hospital performance."

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Laurel Lake Retirement Community is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community offering multiple home styles within a scenic 150-acre campus in Hudson, Ohio. Laurel Lake is a member of Catholic Healthcare Partners ( www.health-partners.org ). To learn more, call 1-866-650-2100 or visit www.laurellake.org.