Hospital Culture Affects Heart Attack Survival

If you think you might be at risk for a heart attack, plan ahead. It turns out that the culture of a hospital has a significant impact on patient heart attack survival. Yale researchers studied 11 hospitals around the country. Some were ranked at the top for heart patient survival while others were near the bottom. Top-rated hospitals had shared values and a vision of excellence held by all staff. They also had excellent communication between physicians and the rest of the health care team.
In hospitals with high mortality rates after heart attacks, finger pointing and blame were common and people were reluctant to volunteer improvements. There was also high-turnover at the executive level. Finding out which hospitals have a team spirit and collegial culture can be challenging, but preparing ahead could save your life. For more information on hospital quality, consumers can check the government’s Hospital Compare website.

[Annals of Internal Medicine, March 2011]