This week Thomson Reuters released its annual study of the nation's top hospitals and with it, a list of the top 100. The study evaluates performance in key areas: mortality; medical complications; patient safety; average length of patient stay; profitability; patient satisfaction; adherence to clinical standards of care; and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and pneumonia.
As I scrolled the list, I thought about what a boon these awards must be for, among other things, physician recruitment purposes. Whenever a hospital trying to woo a doctor can demonstrate that it's performing at a high level, sealing an employment deal with a new doctor is just that much easier.
But recruitment of doctors is getting tougher. A recent report by the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that the national shortage of doctors will quadruple to 91,500 doctors by 2020.
"The doctor shortage is reaching crisis proportions," said Mark Smith in a statement. Smith is president of physician search firm Merritt Hawkins. The firm has announced a pro bono physician search program designed to place a physician in a medically underserved area.
The usual cost for the service is between $20,000 and $30,000, a steep price for many hospitals, but especially for those in financially struggling communities. Merritt is waiving its fee both to assist an area that may be strapped but ailing, and to bring awareness to the growing problem of physician insufficiency.
The search competition is open to any hospital, medical group, or community with a critical, unmet need for a physician. Applications are due August 15. Merritt Hawkins will review them and select one winner based on the severity of need, the duration of the search, and the negative effect of not having physician services.
"When a community lacks a doctor, there is a domino effect,” Smith said. "Families leave and it is hard to attract new business."
As for Thomson Reuters' top 100 hospitals, the top major teaching hospitals are listed here. To see the top large, medium, and small community hospitals, scroll down. Make note: Thomson Reuters gives special recognition to hospitals that delivered the greatest rate of improvement over five years. Those are called Everest Award winners, and they are identified by asterisks.
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital - Downers Grove, IL
Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth - Fort Worth, TX
Boone Hospital Center - Columbia, MO
Centennial Medical Center - Nashville, TN
Central DuPage Hospital - Winfield, IL
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System - Texarkana, TX
Martin Memorial Medical Center - Stuart, FL
Missouri Baptist Medical Center - St. Louis, MO
Silver Cross Hospital - Joliet, IL
Southwest General Health Center - Middleburg Heights, OH
St. David's Medical Center - Austin, TX
Trinity Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler, TX
*Augusta Health - Fisherville, VA
Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center - Sheboygan, WI
Blanchard Valley Hospital - Findlay, OH
Columbus Regional Hospital - Columbus, IN
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital - Katy, TX
Mercy Hospital Anderson - Cincinnati, OH
Mercy Hospital Clermont - Batavia, OH
Mercy Hospital Fairfield - Fairfield, OH
Minden Medical Center - Minden, LA
Reid Hospital & Health Care Services - Richmond, IN
Sycamore Medical Center - Miamisburg, OH
West Anaheim Medical Center - Anaheim, CA
Winchester Hospital - Winchester, MA
Small Community Hospitals
Andalusia Regional Hospital - Andalusia, AL
Central Michigan Community Hospital - Mount Pleasant, MI
Flaget Memorial Hospital - Bardstown, KY
Harlan ARH Hospital - Harlan, KY
Kosciusko Community Hospital - Warsaw, IN
LeConte Medical Center - Sevierville, TN
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital - Sugar Land, TX
Mercy Hospital Cadillac - Cadillac, MI
Moberly Regional Medical Center - Moberly, MO
Payson Regional Medical Center - Payson, AZ
Ponca City Medical Center - Ponca City, OK
*Russell Medical Center - Alexander City, AL
St. Elizabeth Community Hospital - Red Bluff, CA
*St. Joseph Health System - Tawas City, MI
St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital - Howell, MI
St. Mary's Jefferson Memorial Hospital - Jefferson City, TN
Sutter Davis Hospital - Davis, CA