SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Regional West Medical Center is 5-star rated for Treatment of Stroke and Treatment of Respiratory Failure outcomes according to a study released by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. This achievement is part of new findings and data featured in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation.

The report demonstrates how clinical performance continues to differ dramatically between hospitals regionally and nationally. Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance annually at almost 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 32 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions.

Variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes. A 5-star rating indicates that for three consecutive years Regional West Medical Center’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.

“It is rewarding to see our diligence pay off with exceptional treatment, and therefore outcomes, in the areas of respiratory failure and stroke. We continually look to improve the delivery of care for all of our patients,” said Lisa Scheppers, MD, FACP, Regional West’s Chief Medical Officer.

 “This national recognition from Healthgrades for the treatment of stroke and respiratory failure is very important to Regional West. All of the providers and staff at Regional West are focused on improving patient outcomes, patient safety, and patient satisfaction,” said John Mentgen, President and CEO of Regional West Health Services.

In 2017, Regional West Medical Center was recognized as a 5-Star recipient for treatment of pulmonary embolism and as a 5-Star recipient for treatment of pneumonia and sepsis in 2018.

“Clinical quality varies significantly between hospitals, so it’s important for consumers to use information about outcomes to assess where to receive care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Healthgrades. “The 5-star ratings for stroke and respiratory failure showcases the expertise and commitment of Regional West Medical Center to their patients.”

For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for almost 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 32 common conditions and procedures, and evaluated outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected) and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories. The complete Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation and detailed study methodology can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality/.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

* Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2015 through 2017 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.