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MUSC cardiovascular center one of top 100   The MUSC Medical Center is the only hospital in South Carolina named as one of the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals in the nation by Solucient, the leading source of health care business intelligence.     The study identifies hospitals that have achieved excellence in care, efficiency of operations and sustainability of cardiovascular performance. Its aim is to provide benchmarks to improve the standard of care in cardiology, including specific procedures and conditions.    Publicly available data statistically adjusted for variations in care, illness levels and costs were used to track performance in key cardiology areas.    The Solucient 100 Top Hospitals Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success study found that if all hospitals achieved the success levels of the top performers, an additional 4,400 cardiovascular patients could survive each year and U.S. health care could save $880 million annually.    The study also found that top-performing facilities consistently outperform their peers, especially in terms of mortality and complications rates: Risk-adjusted mortality rates were an average of 26 percent lower for certain surgical procedures in top hospitals compared to non-winners. Post-operative infection rates were an average 18 percent lower in winning versus non-winning hospitals, while post procedural hemorrhage rates were 26 percent lower. In terms of efficiency, the average length of stay for cardiac patients would decrease by more than half a day—eliminating 402,000 patient days each year— if all hospitals achieved the best performance. The survey winners were divided into peer groups and included 30 teaching hospitals with cardiovascular residency programs, 40 teaching hospitals without cardiovascular residency programs and 30 community hospitals. The MUSC Medical Center competed in the category of teaching hospitals with cardiovascular residency programs.    “Achieving this benchmark in the treatment of heart disease is a tremendous accomplishment for a hospital,” said Jean Chenoweth, executive director of the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals research program. “These winning teams shine a light on practice and performance that will help guide all hospitals to deliver better care.”    More information can be found at http://www.100TopHospitals.com. Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.