Analysis Shows Hospital Care Improving in New York State

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — An analysis of New York hospital data shows overall reduction in surgical death rates and improvements in treating serious illnesses over a decade.

The Niagara Health Quality Coalition report, however, shows more post-surgical infections and deaths from operations where part of the skull is removed.

The coalition reports gains for 230 hospitals in most patient-safety categories, while post-operative sepsis, or systemic inflammation caused by severe infections, rose to 1.4 percent.

The nonprofit says there's need for a cooperative regional surveillance system for the most dangerous infections, like antibiotic-resistant bacteria, extending to all hospitals and long-term care centers because they transfer patients.

Coalition President Bruce Boissonnault says overall surgical mortality rates have dropped by half. For example, deaths from aneurysm repairs are down from 8.5 percent to 2.6 percent.