A federal study recognizes a Warren hospital

WARREN — Trumbull Memorial Hospital has one of the lowest death rates among heart-attack patients.

A study said listed TMH as one of 17 hospitals that have better than average mortality rates for patients who have suffered heat attacks. The only other Ohio hospital on this list was Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights.

The 17 hospitals had death rates below the national average of 16.4 percent.

The report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services examined nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide. Patient outcomes were examined from July 2005 to June 2006.

It is the federal government’s first attempt to provide consumers with measures of hospital performance.

The report also listed seven hospitals that had death rates for heart-attack patients that were above the national average.

Another category examined was heart-failure death rates.

In this category, 38 hospitals were recognized for having rates below the national average of 11.1 percent, while 35 were listed as having higher rates.

Most hospitals are simply listed as being at the national average. The report doesn’t list rates of specific hospitals. Details can be found at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.ok