PHOTO COURTESY OF GSHCS
[quote style=”2″]Study Finds Rural Hospitals Often Safer and Cheaper for Common Surgeries[/quote]
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that having a common surgery may be safer and more affordable when done in a rural hospital compared to a suburban or city hospital.
“This study gives credence to what rural surgeons long suspected – that well-done rural surgery is safe and cost-effective,” study author Dr. Tyler Hughes said in a University of Michigan news release. Hughes is one of only two surgeons at McPherson Hospital in rural McPherson, Kan., and a director of the American Board of Surgery.
Hughes sentiments are echoed by Jeremy Anderson, D.O., orthopedic surgeon and medical director of surgery at Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS).
“This research helps support and validate the excellent surgical care and quality that our patients can expect to receive here at Good Shepherd,” he said. “We have some of the most skilled surgeons in the area, who have chosen to use their surgical skill to care for our rural community. Hospital administration has also been willing to support our community of surgeons by providing the best technology that has been proven to improve patient outcomes. An example is the da Vinci robot, which aids the surgeon in doing advanced and routine procedures and has been shown to reduce recovery time and scarring.”
Likewise, GSHCS Patient Care Executive, Theresa Brock, VP of Nursing, added, “Our community can have confidence that when they are in need of a surgical procedure it will be conducted by a highly skilled surgeon. All of our clinical care employees are just as committed to providing excellent care – before, during, and after surgery. Something to keep in mind is when our community seeks care at GSHCS is our employees are part of the fabric of this community, they are your neighbors, friends, and family members – each who care deeply and are committed to serving this community.”
Researchers who conducted the study reviewed 1.6 million surgeries, 828 rural hospitals, and 3,600 larger hospitals. Outcomes for Medicare patients were reviewed who had one of four common operations: gallbladder removal, colon surgery, hernia repair, and appendix removal. The study also revealed that it cost Medicare about $1,400 less for the same operation at a rural hospital than at a larger urban or suburban hospital.
To see how GSHCS compares to other hospitals in the region, visit the Oregon Hospital Guide website or the Medicare website.
Hospital compare ratings are based on a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services survey conducted by phone or by mail through a third party vendor and then compared to the national and state averages. As part of their commitment to always providing excellent quality GSHCS encourages everyone who may be asked to participate in the survey to please do so.
