Only one CT hospital makes social responsibility honor roll
Among Connecticut hospitals, only William Backus received A’s on health equity, the value of care, and health outcomes, according to the latest Lown Institute Hospital Social Responsibility Index. Backus ranked #71 among US hospitals overall. The Index scores over 3,000 US hospitals on their performance in responsibility to their community. Seventy-five US hospitals, including Backus, received A’s on each area of responsibility earning a spot on the Index Honor Roll.
Overall, Connecticut hospitals ranked 13th among states in average hospital social responsibility behind Rhode Island (#7) and Massachusetts (#12) but ahead of New York (#31). Twelve Connecticut hospitals earned A’s overall, 12 also earned B grades, and two received C’s for overall performance.
The Index includes grades in each of the categories and sub-categories. The Health Equity score includes Pay Equity, how well staff are paid compared to executives, Community Benefit, how well hospitals invest in community health, and Inclusivity, how well the hospital serves people of color, people with lower incomes, and less education. The Value score measures Avoiding Overuse, how well the hospitals avoid unnecessary care and Cost Efficiency. Outcome grades reflect performance on Clinical Outcomes, Patient Safety, and Patient Satisfaction. Click here for more detail
| Among Connecticut hospitals, rank by area | |||
| Equity | Value | Clinical outcomes | |
| Best | William Backus | Norwalk | St. Francis |
| Lowest rank | Greenwich | St. Vincent’s | Waterbury |
Eleven Connecticut hospitals received D grades. Greenwich earned a D for overall Equity and two subcategories, Middlesex received two D grades, and another nine earned one D. The most common D grades were for Executive compensation (4 hospitals), Inclusivity (4), patient satisfaction (3), and patient safety (2). Click here for more details
| Connecticut hospitals with D grades | |
| Hospital | Number of D grades |
| Greenwich | 3 |
| Middlesex | 2 |
| Manchester | 1 |
| Hospital of Central CT | 1 |
| Hartford | 1 |
| Dempsey | 1 |
| Yale-New Haven | 1 |
| Rockville | 1 |
| Johnson Mem. | 1 |
| Charlotte Hungerford | 1 |
| Waterbury | 1 |
Sponsors of the Index emphasized that, as a measure of hospital social responsibility, it was not designed as a tool for patients to decide where to get care. The authors provide opportunities for citizens to use the tool to improve their hospital’s service to the community.