BANGOR — Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center is pleased to have been recognized as having the lowest heart attack readmission ratio for the second year in a row, according to newly released Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services data.
As part of its hospital readmissions reduction program, CMS measures excess readmissions for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip/knee replacement, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The most recent data, updated in May and just released, includes readmissions between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024.
“I am incredibly proud of our entire team for earning this recognition for the second consecutive year,” Ava Collins, MHA, FACHE, president, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, said. “This acknowledgement from CMS validates the exceptional care we provide to our patients every day. Our cardiologists, nurses, support staff, and all the dedicated professionals across our Medical Center work tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcomes, and we will continue building on this success to deliver outstanding heart care to the people of Maine.”
Eastern Maine Medical Center recorded a heart attack readmission ratio of 0.6839, the lowest among hospitals nationwide. A readmission ratio below 1.0 indicates a hospital has fewer readmissions than expected compared with similar hospitals treating comparable patient populations, above 1.0 means more.
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center also led the nation in last year’s CMS report, posting a heart attack readmission ratio of 0.7224.
Other hospitals with the lowest heart attack readmission ratios in the latest report included Intermountain Medical Center in Utah (0.7408); Mayo Clinic Hospital in Minnesota (0.7890); Memorial Mission Hospital and Asheville Surgery Center in North Carolina (0.7946); and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital in Washington (0.8049). The full data set is available here.
To learn more about Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and its full range of cardiovascular services, visit northernlighthealth.org/emmccardiovascular.