U.Va. earns high marks for ICU

The U.Va. Health System made the list of Top 100 Hospitals for its intensive care unit.

The assessment from Solucient Leadership Institute, formerly HCIA-Sachs, is the first broad, comparative look at ICUs, one of the most clinically and economically demanding areas for hospitals. Using Medicare data, Solucient researchers rated intensive care units on four measures: death rates, complications, how long patients stayed in the units and cost of care. Top-scoring facilities had shorter stays, lower costs and fewer deaths and complications.

"The ICU is one of the most challenging areas of a hospital to manage. Patients are often sicker than those in other areas, and there is a diversity of illness not seen on other units," said William E. Carter, senior associate vice president for operations. "To be recognized for superior clinical outcomes and efficient use of resources in the ICU is truly a reflection of the dedication and commitment of our employees in this area."