This Fact File examines trends in the detection and treatment of acute myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks, in two distinct groups:
STEMI—ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, with the ST segment referring to a specific part of an electrocardiogram tracing. In STEMI, the coronary artery is completely blocked and cardiac muscle dies. NSTEMI—Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. In NSTEMI, a coronary artery is partially blocked.
The Truven Health 15 Top Health Systems study annually identifies those health system leadership teams that have most effectively aligned outstanding performance across their organizations, and achieved more reliable outcomes in every member hospital. Truven Health Analytics measures U.S. health systems based on a balanced scorecard across a range of performance factors: care quality, patient safety, use of evidence-based medicine, operational efficiency, and customer perception of care.
Spending on supplies and pharmaceutical services varies among U.S. hospitals. It is not uncommon for hospitals with similar types of patients, including case mix and severity, to have significant differences in purchasing intensity for certain clinical services. Even small changes in efficiency can make a difference for hospitals and health systems, because supply-chain spending typically accounts for hospitals’ biggest spend after labor costs. Costs totaled about $74 billion in 2012, according to the Healthcare Supply Chain Association.
The Truven Health Analytics 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study identifies U.S. hospitals that have achieved the best performance on a balanced scorecard of performance measures. Based on comparisons between study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals that were not winners, winners are achieving better outcomes while operating more efficiently and at a lower cost. If all cardiovascular providers performed at the same level of this year's winners, almost 8,000 additional lives could be saved; nearly 3,500 heart patients could be complication free; and more than $1.3 billion could be saved.
