At Denver Health, we track measures of our performance against other hospitals in the state of Colorado and the nation. Quality excellence includes the following.

Mortality: The medical mortality rate at Denver Health is consistently much lower than would be expected. Thus, if you have certain medical conditions, treatment at Denver Health would be less likely to result in death, compared with other hospitals. Denver Health is ranked #1 out of 103 University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals.

Women's Care: 21% of births at Denver Health are done by c-section compared to a national average of 30%.

Preventive care: 89% of Denver Health one-year olds are immunized.

Chronic care: 60% of Denver Health’s hypertensive patients have their blood pressure controlled compared to 34% nation-wide.

Health Care-associated Infections: Denver Health has had only one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in its ICUs for in the last 18 months.

Cardiac Care: Denver Health continues to provide nearly perfect cardiac care for heart attack and heart failure patients.

Acute Care: Denver Health’s trauma survival rate is 96% and the Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center has the best outcomes in the nation according to the American College of Surgeons.

High blood pressure is a dangerous condition with few or no symptoms, yet in the U.S. only 34 percent of people with high blood pressure have it under control using medications or lifestyle changes. At Denver Health, 60 percent of patients (with no ethnic disparity) have their high blood pressure controlled which is nearly double the national average.

MICU Central Line Associated Bacteremia

Hospitals whose quality of trauma care is below average are displayed in red. Denver Health, at the other end of the scale (in green) has the best trauma outcomes in the nation's academic medical centers, as determined by the American College of Surgeons.

Heart Attack

Aspirin at Arrival

*October 2007--September 2008     Why do we measure this?  Aspirin is beneficial for most heart attack patients because it reduces the tendency of blood to clot in blood vessels of the heart and improves the chance a patient will survive. Aspirin has also been proven to minimize the extent of damage during an ongoing heart attack and to reduce the risk of subsequent heart attacks.

Beta Blocker at Arrival

*October 2007--September 2008 Why do we measure this? Denver Health tracks how many heart attack patients receive a “beta blocker” within 24 hours of arrival at the hospital. Beta blockers provide protection by slowing the heart and helping it use less energy to pump blood, thus reducing further damage to the heart, and administering the drug as soon as possible can improve outcomes for heart attack patients.

Smoking Cessation Advice/ Counseling

*October 2007--September 2008   Why do we measure this? Denver Health tracks how many heart attack patients receive smoking cessation advice. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks and quitting reduces the risk for future heart attacks.

ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

*October 2007--September 2008     Why do we measure this? ACE inhibitors (ACE-I) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), are prescription drugs that lower blood pressure and preserve cardiac muscle function, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.  This is important for patients after a heart attack if they have heart failure. Most recent available data indicate that Denver Health has the lowest mortality rate for heart attacks and congestive heart failure among all University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals.

Aspirin at Discharge

*October 2007--September 2008   Why do we measure this? Denver Health tracks heart attack patients who receive a prescription for aspirin at discharge; aspirin is beneficial for most heart attack patients because it reduces the tendency of blood to clot in blood vessels of the heart and improves the chance a patient will survive. Aspirin has also been proven to minimize the extent of damage during an ongoing heart attack and to reduce the risk of subsequent heart attacks.

Beta Blocker at Discharge

*October 2007--September 2008 Why do we measure this? Denver Health tracks how many heart attack patients receive a “beta blocker” prescription before leaving the hospital. Beta blockers provide protection by slowing the heart and helping it use less energy to pump blood, thus reducing further damage to the heart, and administering the drug as soon as possible can improve outcomes for heart attack patients.

PCI Within 90 Minutes of Arrival

*October 2007--September 2008   Why do we measure this? Denver Health tracks the number of eligible adult heart attack patients with a clogged heart artery who receive a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (or PCI balloon therapy) within 90 minutes of arrival at the hospital. PCI opens the clogged artery, which increases blood flow to the heart and reduces heart damage.

Heart Failure

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic Function

*October 2007—September 2008    Why do we measure this? When a patient has heart failure, the main pumping chamber of the heart—the left ventricle could be affected. National guidelines advocate the evaluation of left ventricular systolic function as the single most important diagnostic test in the management of all patients with heart failure.

Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling

*October 2007—September 2008    Why do we measure this? Quitting smoking has health benefits and can greatly reduce a patient's risk for developing heart and lung diseases, so Denver Health works to educate patients about the health benefits of quitting.

ACE Inhibitor or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

*October 2007—September 2008   Why do we measure this? ACE inhibitors (ACE-I) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), are prescription drugs that lower blood pressure and preserve cardiac muscle function, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.  This is important for patients whose hearts are not functioning properly. Most recent available data indicate that Denver Health has the lowest mortality rate for heart attacks and congestive heart failure among all University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals.

Discharge Instructions

*October 2007—September 2008   Why we measure this? Patient non-compliance with diet and medications is an important reason for changes in clinical status. Health care professionals should ensure that patients and their families understand their dietary restrictions, activity recommendations, prescribed medication regimen and the signs and symptoms of worsening heart failure. National guidelines strongly support the role of patient education.