Quality Measures

While there are a number of ways to measure quality, Baystate Medical Center (BMC) has received recognition for being a hospital of high quality and promoting the highest level of patient safety.  Learn more about national recognition for Baystate Medical Center. 

Being a tertiary referral hospital in Western Massachusetts the physicians and staff at Baystate Medical Center have accumulated a lot of experience in dealing with complex and sophisticated care.  Most studies which look at the relationship to volume and mortality (death) find that patient mortality in a given procedure is lower when the physician and/or the hospital has high volume experience performing that procedure.

Baystate Medical Center has been a leader in quality measurement as well.  We are participating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to test how we can measure quality and to see if hospitals can be reimbursed based on quality measures.  This so called CMS Hospital Quality Incentive Project has been rolled-out across the country for over 220 hospitals.  By participating in this project, Baystate Medical Center has been measuring and improving quality in over 34 different areas.  How we are doing can be seen below.

Another area of public reporting of quality comes from the Leapfrog Patient Safety Advocacy Group attempts to improve some of the infrastructure around healthcare delivery.  In their second survey of hospitals achievement of the Leapfrog Groups Patient Safety Goals, it was recently reported that hospitals are falling short of the goals.  In 2003, just 5% of hospitals nationwide had the goals for computerized physician order entry (CPOE) while 17% said they are committed towards full CPOE implementation.  Similarly, there has been no increase in the number of hospitals that have dedicated intensivist staffing since the Leapfrog made this recommendation.  Baystate Medical Center has achieved full compliance with all Leapfrog standards with regard to have a Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system, having fill-time Intensive Care Unit doctors and high volume of complex procedures.

Baystate Medical Center has also been listed twice in the past three years as a 'Top 100 Hospital' by health data consultants, Thomson (formerly Solucient) on a survey that recognizes both and medical and operational excellence.

Baystate Medical Center received a 'Distinguished Performer' award for its quality and safety programs by Premier, Inc., a national quality improvement organization with over 500 hospitals in its organization.

Baystate Medical Center received a 'Gold Medal' from the American Heart Association for improving the care of patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Awards and Recognitions

• Thomson Top 100 Hospitals in the United States:  Performance Improvement Leaders (2007)
• US News & World Report "America's Best Hospitals" (2009, 2008, 2007)
• Premier Quality Award (2006)
• Premier HQID Top Performer Total Joint Replacement Care (2009)
• Premier Top 10 Orthopedic Performer (2006)
• Premier "Distinguished Performer" Award for Quality (2003)
• Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence (2008-2004)
• Thomson Top 100 Hospitals in the United States (2006, 2002, 1999)
• Thomson Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the United States (2005)
• Most Wired Magazine's Most Wireless Award (2008, 2005)
• Verispan Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Network (2009-1999)
• The Leapfrog Group's Leapfrog Award
• Professional Research Consultant's, Inc. 5-Star Customer Award

View the 2009 Annual Quality Report.