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Star Ratings, Surgery Volume, & Outcomes Studied
Cancer; ePub 2017 Jun 30; Kaye, Norton et al
Hospital star rating can help patients select a hospital for major cancer surgery, according to an analysis involving nearly 366,000 individuals. However, surgical volume appears to be a better gauge at this point. Participants had 1 of 9 types of cancer. Investigators looked at the link between short-term cancer surgery outcomes and both star rankings and surgical volume. Among the results:
For 5- and 1-star hospitals predicted probabilities were:
- Mortality: ~2%, and ~5%, respectively.
- Complications rates: 39% and 48%, respectively.
- Readmission rates: 10% and 15%, respectively.
- Prolonged length of stay: 8% and 16%, respectively.
For hospitals in the highest and lowest quintiles for surgery volume the predicted probabilities were:
- Mortality: ~3% and ~6%, respectively.
- Complications: 41% and 55%, respectively.
- Readmissions: ~12% for both.
- Prolonged length of stay: ~9% and 13%, respectively.
Kaye D, Norton E, Ellimoottil C, et al. Understanding the relationship between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Hospital Compare star rating, surgical case volume, and short-term outcomes after major cancer surgery. [Published online ahead of print June 30, 2017]. Cancer. doi:10.1002/cncr.30866.