Georgia rates poorly in hospital deaths

Nine Georgia hospitals rated worse than national norms on death rates for pneumonia or heart failure, a higher number than all states but California. The Hospital Compare Web site run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows 80 U.S. hospitals listed as top performers in the mortality rates for patients admitted with heart attack, heart failure, or pneumonia. No Georgia hospitals were among the best performers. Nationwide, 103 hospitals, including the nine Georgia hospitals, were rated worse than the national average for one or more conditions. Eight of the nine in Georgia were poor performers in pneumonia.