Independence Health System Recognized by U.S. News & World Report Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals

Category: Leadership & Accolades, Media Release
Posted On: Aug 14, 2023

GREENSBURG, PA, August 14, 2023 … Independence Health System has once again received national recognition for clinical expertise and high quality patient care, ranked among the top performing hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24.

Independence Health System Westmoreland Hospital is among 484 Best Regional Hospitals recognized for delivering high-quality treatment across multiple specialties and rated number 25 in the state of Pennsylvania. Westmoreland is specifically recognized as high performing in eight areas: lung cancer surgery, heart bypass, heart failure, stroke, hip replacement, knee replacement, maternity care and COPD treatment. Also recognized is Independence Health System Latrobe Hospital, ranked as high performing in stroke care.
Now in its 34th year, Best Hospitals evaluates hospitals in more than 30 medical and surgical services, with the objective of providing patients with data-driven decision tools. To keep pace with consumers' needs and the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, several refinements are reflected in the 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings. These include the introduction of outpatient outcomes in key specialty rankings and surgical ratings, the expanded inclusion of other outpatient data, an increased weight on objective quality measures, a reduced weight on expert opinion and more. Hospital profiles on USNews.com feature refined health equity measures, including a new measure of racial disparities in outcomes.
“A recent survey of U.S. News users revealed more than four in five (84%) consider a hospital’s quality metrics to be important factors when deciding where to seek treatment for a serious medical issue,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Consumers want useful resources to help them assess which hospital can best meet their specific care needs. The 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings offer patients and the physicians with whom they consult a data-driven source for comparing performance in outcomes, patient satisfaction and other metrics that matter to them.”
“Helping consumers make decisions that are based on facts and driven by data is the cornerstone of our mission,” Executive Chairman and CEO Eric Gertler added. “Our Health team, consisting of dedicated journalists and data analysts, has decades of experience supporting patients on their healthcare journey through the ‘Best Hospitals' rankings and the deep reporting they do for the many stories that accompany these rankings. With unwavering commitment, we strive to help patients, caregivers and their communities.”
“We are proud that Independence Health System and Westmoreland Hospital have achieved these honors, but it is our patients who are the real winners,” said Carol Fox, MD, FAAFP, Independence Health System Chief Medical Officer. “Being recognized for providing care that is effective and safe directly supports our promise to our community to improve the health and well-being of every life we touch. Our care teams are committed to providing the best care possible for patients over their lifetime.
The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings and Procedures & Conditions ratings factor objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, patient experience, level of nursing care and how successfully each hospital helps patients get back home. To calculate the Best Hospitals rankings for overall performance, specialties, states and metro areas, U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance using a variety of measures from data provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations and medical specialists. The Procedures & Conditions ratings are based entirely on objective quality measures.

Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and 7,300 employees, the System is now the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than 10 counties.

The System includes tertiary programs that are rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery by Healthgrades in its Top 100 and Top 50 designations, and one of only five in Pennsylvania to achieve a five-star rating in cardiac surgery. In similar fashion, the prestigious Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) bestowed its top three-star rating. Historically, less than 10 percent of programs within the STS data base achieve this elite standing. The hospitals of Independence Health System also have earned a host of accolades from such prestigious outlets and sources as US News and World Report, Newsweek Magazine, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Surgeons, the Joint Commission, Leapfrog and the American Heart/Stroke Association.

Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services.

Independence Health System continues to change the healthcare landscape in western Pennsylvania by meeting patient needs through superb physician expertise, outstanding nursing, the latest in technology and programmatic depth.

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