Physician-owned Hospitals Get Top Rankings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Even while Consumer Reports is showing hospitals owned and operated by physicians among the best in the country, some in Congress are trying to shut them down in the name of “healthcare reform.”, according to Physician Hospitals of America (PHA).The independent testing and research organization released a new study last week considering the comments of over one-million patients around thecountry. Overwhelmingly, Consumer Reports found that patients prefer thequality of care received at physician-owned and operated hospitals,supporting previous independent studies including federal government dataavailable at the CMS Hospital Compare Web site.“Physician-owned and operated hospitals are clearly among the best inAmerica,” said Molly Sandvig, executive director of PHA. “It is clear that the only reason physician hospitals are beingattacked is to take away competition in the hospital market place. President Barack Obama acknowledges that competition is healthy in the insurance industry – the same absolutely holds true for hospitals.”Sandvig adds, “This survey should have a significant impact on anyone seriously considering patient satisfaction and quality care as true concerns inhealthcare. It is neither logical nor acceptable for Congress to do away with a health care option that citizens have consistently said they prefer.” Sandvig notes that physician-owned hospitals were ranked as the No.1 hospital in 19 states, adding, “This is truly noteworthy considering that approximately 20 states do not have physician-owned hospitals.”Looking at the full report and considering every state in which physician hospitals exist, the following are the significant results:

• Arkansas – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals; plus 4 ofthe top 7 are Physician-owned hospitals

• Arizona – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital; plus 4 of thetop 5 are Physician-owned hospitals

• California – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals

• Colorado – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Idaho – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals; plus 3 of thetop 4 are physician-owned hospitals

• Indiana – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals; plus 4 of thetop 5 are physician-owned hospitals

• Kansas – the top 5 are physician-owned hospitals; plus 10 ofthe top 13 are physician-owned hospitals

• Louisiana – the top 9 hospitals are all physician-ownedhospitals

• Montana – the top 1is a physician-owned hospital, plus 2 of thetop 4 are physician-owned hospitals

• North Carolina – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Nebraska – the top 2 hospitals are physician-owned hospitals

• New Mexico – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Nevada – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Ohio – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals

• Oklahoma – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital, plus 8 ofthe top 10 are physician-owned hospitals

• South Dakota – 5 of the top 6 are physician-owned hospitals

• Texas – the top 3 are physician-owned hospitals, plus 16 of thetop 26 are physician-owned hospitals

• Utah – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Washington – the top 1 is a physician-owned hospital

• Wisconsin – the top 2 are physician-owned hospitals

Other physician-owned and operated hospitals also rank in the top numbersin these and other states – additional data is available from ConsumerReports.