Hospital rankings: Treasure Coast medical centers tackle racial health care disparities
Treasure Coast hospitals are making strides in providing equitable care to patients across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic spectrums, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings.
Although the rankings’ evolving categories make apples-to-apples comparisons difficult, last year’s assessment showed each of the region’s seven hospitals had room for improvement in certain health disparities, such as readmission prevention among Black versus white patients.
This year’s progress includes higher-than-average spending on free and discounted care for uninsured patients, representation of nonwhite patients treated for elective procedures “comparable to or higher than the community,” and shrinking gaps between the discharging of Black versus white patients home during their first 30 days of recovery.
Each local hospital was ranked “high performing” — as opposed to “average” or “below average” — in at least one procedure or condition, meaning they were in the top 10% nationwide.
Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital and New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital were among those named to the Honor Roll. No Florida hospital made this list of the top 22 medical centers in the country. While Cleveland Clinic has several Florida locations, its flagship hospital in Ohio is the only one that made the Honor Roll.
Sebastian River Medical Center
Operated by Steward Health Care, the region’s northernmost hospital was ranked average in nine categories, including stroke and hip fracture.
Sebastian River was ranked high performing in pneumonia, the only Treasure Coast hospital to receive a top grade in this category. Its pneumonia scorecard included “excellent” marks for survival 30 days after hospitalization and direct discharge to patients’ homes.
Sebastian River was ranked below average in:
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Colon cancer surgery
Back surgery (spinal fusion)
Lung cancer surgery
Although Sebastian River’s representation of low-income patients was similar to that of other hospitals, its charity care for uninsured patients was lower.
The hospital scored excellent in its enabling of Black patients to live at home in the first 30 days of recovery after a knee replacement, hip replacement or back surgery (spinal fusion), compared to white patients.
Sebastian River’s representation of nonwhite patients treated for elective procedures was comparable to or higher than the community.
13695 U.S. 1, Sebastian; 772-589-3186; sebastianrivermedical.org
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital
Indian River was again the only Treasure Coast hospital ranked among the top 20 in Florida. It shared 20th place with Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers. Last year, it tied with five other hospitals for 18th place.
Indian River ranked average in 11 categories, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and high performing in:
Heart attack
Heart bypass surgery
Heart failure
Colon cancer surgery
Stroke
Hip replacement
Knee replacement
The hospital was ranked below average in prostate cancer surgery.
Indian River’s representation of low-income patients and charity care provision for uninsured patients were similar to those of other hospitals.
Its representation of nonwhite patients treated for elective procedures was lower than the community, while its representation of Black patients was moderately lower.
Indian River’s discharge home of Black compared to white patients after knee or hip replacement or back surgery (spinal fusion) was average.
1000 36th St., Vero Beach; 772-567-4311; my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/locations/indian-river-hospital
HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital
Lawnwood, the region’s only trauma center, was ranked average in six categories, including diabetes and kidney failure.
It was ranked high performing in:
Heart attack
Heart failure
Stroke
Like last year, Lawnwood was recognized for its transparency in publicly sharing cardiology data. Its heart attack scorecard indicated a “better-than-average” survival rate 30 days after hospitalization but “poor” readmission prevention in that timeframe.
The hospital was ranked below average in:
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Aortic valve surgery
Heart bypass surgery
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Colon cancer surgery
Hip fracture
Hip replacement
Knee replacement
Lawnwood’s charity care provision for uninsured patients was higher than that of other hospitals.
Its representations of nonwhite and Black patients treated for elective procedures were lower than the community. Its home recovery of Black versus white patients discharged after aortic valve replacement, TAVR or heart bypass surgery was average.
1700 S. 23rd St., Fort Pierce; 772-461-4000; lawnwoodmed.com
HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital
St. Lucie was ranked average in 11 categories, including knee replacement and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It was ranked below average in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
The hospital was ranked high performing in heart failure, despite getting a poor grade for 30-day survival on its scorecard for the condition. However, it scored “very high” in its volume of Medicare inpatients 65 and older with heart failure over five years, which is “associated with better outcomes.”
St. Lucie scored excellent in its enabling of Black patients — compared to white patients — to live at home in the first 30 days of recovery after a knee replacement, hip replacement or back surgery (spinal fusion). Its charity care for uninsured patients was higher than other hospitals.
St. Lucie was the only local hospital with sufficient data to assess its representation of Hispanic patients treated for elective procedures. It was lower than the community, as was its representation of nonwhite patients. Its representation of Black patients was moderately lower.
Patient-experience surveys, which include categories such as staff responsiveness and overall hospital satisfaction, aren’t part of the rankings. Even so, St. Lucie was the only Treasure Coast hospital to score three out of five stars; the others each got two stars.
1800 S.E. Tiffany Ave., Port St. Lucie; 772-335-4000; stluciemed.com
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
Three hospitals make up Cleveland Clinic Martin Health:
Tradition: 10000 S.W. Innovation Way, Port St. Lucie; 772-345-8100; my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/locations/tradition-hospital
Martin North: 200 S.E. Hospital Ave., Stuart; 772-287-5200; my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/locations/martin-north-hospital
Martin South: 2100 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart; 772-223-2300; my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/locations/martin-south-hospital
The trio are sometimes treated as a single hospital because they share the same Medicare certification number. Martin Health was unranked this year, after sharing 31st place in Florida with Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center last year.
The hospital system was ranked average in 12 categories, including prostate cancer surgery. It was ranked high performing in:
Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Heart attack
Heart failure
Colon cancer surgery
Stroke
Maternity care (uncomplicated pregnancy)
Lung cancer surgery
It’s the only local hospital ranked in maternity care; Martin Health was recognized for its “very rare” newborn complications and excellent minimization of avoidable cesarean sections.
It was ranked below average in back surgery (spinal fusion).
Martin Health’s representations of nonwhite and Black patients treated for elective procedures were comparable to or higher than the community.
Its representation of low-income patients and charity care for uninsured patients were similar to those of other hospitals. Its home recovery of Black versus white patients 30 days after hip replacement, knee replacement or back surgery (spinal fusion) was average.
Lindsey Leake is TCPalm’s projects reporter. She has an M.A. in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins University, an M.A. in Journalism and Digital Storytelling from American University and a B.A. from Princeton University. Follow her on Twitter @NewsyLindsey, Facebook @LindseyMLeake and Instagram @newsylindsey. Call her at 772-529-5378 or email her at lindsey.leake@tcpalm.com.
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Best Hospitals 2023-2024 list released by U.S. News & World Report
