When it comes to surgical safety, Summa Western Reserve Hospital scores highest among Summit County hospitals in a new report issued recently by Consumer Reports.
The community hospital in Cuyahoga Falls earned the second-best mark possible on the surgery safety rating recently released by Consumer Reports.
Medina Hospital also ranked in the second-highest category.
The hospitals that scored the highest on the five-level scale had the lowest percentage of Medicare patients dying or staying in the hospital longer than expected after surgical procedures.
The study was based on three years of Medicare billing data for 27 common, scheduled surgeries, ranging from back surgery to hip and knee replacements. (Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people ages 65 and older and some younger, disabled Americans.)
The magazine worked with national health-care consulting firm MPA to analyze the data and develop the rankings.
The researchers examined the percentage of patients who experienced unexpected events and complications during their hospital stays to compile the rankings.
A total of 2,463 hospitals from across the nation were included in the study, which analyzed data from 2009 to 2011.
Northeast Ohio hospitals earning the top rating include Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Parma Community General Hospital, Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights and St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.
Summa Health System in Akron ranked in the middle, third tier on the five-level scale. Akron General Medical Center ranked fourth.
The complete ranking is available online at www.consumerreports.org.
Children’s growing again
Akron Children’s Hospital is continuing its expansion throughout the region with the acquisition of another pediatric practice.
Effective Sept. 9, Children’s Clinic in Stark County is joining Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, the hospital’s network of primary-care offices.
The seven medical providers and office staff from Children’s Clinic are becoming Akron Children’s Hospital employees under the deal, according to a recent news release.
Children’s Clinic will be renamed Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Perry and Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Alliance and relocate to newly constructed offices in those communities.
“Our resources, services and now our network of 23 primary-care locations throughout Northeast Ohio will complement the great care that Children’s Clinic has been offering children for more than 40 years,” Ben Teske, director of primary-care services at Akron Children’s, said in a news release.
Walkathon planned
The second annual Energy for Life Akron Walkathon to support the Northeast Ohio/Cleveland Chapter of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation will take place 9 a.m. Aug. 24 at Lock 3 in downtown Akron.
Mitochondrial disease occurs when the mitochondria in a patient’s cells can’t convert food to life-sustaining energy. The condition can be inherited or triggered by damaged mitochondria.
Research has suggested mitochondrial dysfunction can be responsible for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, autism spectrum disorders and some cancers.
The one-mile walk — sponsored by Akron Children’s Hospital and CrossFit Energy — includes entertainment, refreshments and resources about mitochondrial disease.
Day-of registration begins at 8 a.m. Participants also can preregister online.
For more information or to preregister, visit www.energyforlifewalk.org/akron.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/abjcherylpowell.