Niagara Health System Performing Better Than Canadian Average In Eight Performance Indicators

 – NHS also better than provincial average in administrative expenses

News from the Niagara Health System, a Niagara, Ontario body responsible fr the operation of the region’s ‘s amalgamated hospital services

June 10th, 2015 – Niagara Health System (NHS) is pleased to report that the latest health performance indicators from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show that we are performing better than the Canadian average in eight indicators and better than the Ontario and LHIN averages in Administrative Efficiency.

Niagara Health System’s super hospital complex in west St. Catharines

Highlights of the indicators released today as part of CIHI’s Your Health System initiative demonstrate NHS is performing:

• Better than the Canadian benchmark for Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR);
• Better than the Canadian average for obstetrical trauma (with instrument) — also highlighted as a top performer since our results have been in the best 10 per cent of performances over the last three years;
• Better than the Canadian average for low-risk C-sections;
• Better than the Canadian average for readmissions (all patients; medical patients; obstetric patients; patients 19 years old and younger);
• Better than the Canadian average for worsened depressive mood in long-term care;
• Better than the Ontario and LHIN averages in administrative efficiency.

“Quality safe patient care is a top priority for NHS, and we are very pleased with the progress we are making with key performance indicators reflected in this data for our LHIN, Ontario and Canada,” says NHS President Dr. Suzanne Johnston. “We are grateful to CIHI for its leadership of this initiative. The data produced for Your Health System helps NHS and the public better understand what we are doing well and areas where we can improve. Quality improvement is an ongoing process, and we continue to connect with our healthcare colleagues to share best practices and learn from each other.” 

The hospital deaths indicator (HSMR) tracks hospital mortality rates to reduce preventable deaths in hospitals and improve quality of care. Our HSMR for 2013-14 is 88, which is better than the Canadian baseline. In the obstetrical trauma category, NHS is 10.4 per cent, well below the Canadian average of 18.9 per cent. For low-risk C-sections, the NHS rate is 10.1 per cent, compared to a 13.9 per cent average for Canada. In the administrative efficiency category, NHS scored 4.8 per cent for administrative costs, compared to the provincial average of 5.8 per cent and the LHIN average of 5.7 per cent. The national average in this category is 4.5 per cent, however CIHI notes different health structures in the country could impact this comparison. Among areas identified for continued improvement are Emergency Department wait times for admitted patients.

For details about NHS quality initiatives, please check the Quality section of our website.

(Niagara At Large invites you to share your comments on this post below. Remember that we only post comments from individuals who also share their real first and last name.)