Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, today released America’s 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2016, along with a new digital infographic entitled “Hospital Choice: Your life may depend on it,” that outlines the importance of doing your research before you get sick and why Americans should consider a Healthgrades America’s Best Hospitalfor urgent conditions.

Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals had an overall 26.5% lower risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality rate across the 19 procedures and conditions where mortality is the measured outcome, compared with all other hospitals. From 2012-2014, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to hospitals achieving Healthgrades 2016 America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award, more than 170,000 lives could potentially have been saved. 

“We are pleased to recognize those organizations that have achieved this distinction and urge all consumers to do their homework when selecting a hospital – especially as it relates to emergent conditions – since hospitals do not perform equally,” said Evan Marks, Chief Strategy Officer, Healthgrades.

The Healthgrades infographic reinforces the importance of knowing the top hospitals locally before an urgent medical issue arises. America’s 100 Best Hospitals, as a group, outperform all other hospitals in care and treatment of some of the top reasons for ER visits:

• Heart Attack: 63% of America’s 100 Best Hospitals had a five-star rating (statistically significantly lower mortality rate) for the treatment of heart attack compared to only 12% for all other hospitals

• Stroke: 60% of America’s 100 Best Hospitals had a five-star rating for the treatment of stroke compared to only 13% for all other hospitals

• Pneumonia: 80% of America’s 100 Best Hospitals had a five-star rating for the treatment of pneumonia compared to only 14% for all other hospitals

• COPD: 46% of America’s 100 Best Hospitals had a five-star rating for the treatment of COPD compared to only 6% for all other hospitals

• Sepsis: 94% of America’s 100 Best Hospitals had a five-star rating for the treatment of sepsis compared to only 21% for all other hospitals

Georgia's Recognized Hospitals:

• Athens Regional Medical CenterAthens, GA
• Northeast Georgia Medical CenterGainesville, GA
• Piedmont Fayette HospitalFayetteville, GA
• St. Mary's Health Care SystemAthens, GA

For a complete list of all recipients, please visit: http://www.healthgrades.com/quality/top-hospitals-2016.