Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center has been named one of America's 100 best hospitals for cardiac care by HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent hospital ratings organization. The hospital was further distinguished by being recognized as the number one hospital in New Jersey for overall cardiac services.
"America's 100 Best Hospitals" is a new designation by HealthGrades, which has identified the nation's top 2 percent of all 5000 hospitals for excellence in the specialty category of cardiac care.

"We are extremely pleased that our continued efforts are being recognized on a national level," commented Alexander J. Hatala, president and chief executive officer for Lourdes Health System. "It is no secret that Lourdes has been intensely focusing our efforts on our cardiac service line, and building our cardiac co-management model with physicians. This award confirms that our vision to become the destination hospital for heart care is coming to fruition." Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is also the recipient of the HealthGrades Cardiac Care Excellence Award and its Coronary Intervention Excellence Award. The ratings agency also identified the hospital as being five-star-rated in the following specialty areas: coronary bypass surgery, valve surgery, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure.

While cardiac care has been a major focus at the hospital, it is not the only service to be recognized. Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center also was identified as outstanding for the treatment of stroke and is the recipient of the HealthGrades Stroke Care Excellence Award. The hospital received five-star designations for overall pulmonary services, treatment of pneumonia, treatment of respiratory failure and treatment of sepsis. In fact, it is ranked number three in New Jersey for critical care, and is in the top five in the state for stroke services and top ten for overall pulmonary services.

HealthGrades has found that patients treated at five-star rated hospitals experience a 73 percent lower risk of mortality and a 63 percent lower risk of complications than those treated at one-star rated hospitals.

"I can't express the pride I feel in the work and effort that has led us to these multiple designations," said Hatala. "This recognition is the result of the team effort among physicians, nurses, support staff, performance improvement and associates from all levels of our organization. It is validating to know their efforts are being recognized."

"Patients today have a wide array of options when it comes to choosing a health care provider and they are increasingly making choices based on objective clinical outcomes and quality measures," said Kerry Hicks, HealthGrades chief executive officer. "We commend Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center for its superior quality and support of consumerism and transparency."