Regions again among nations 'Highest Value' hospitals
Hospital receives high marks for performance and efficiency

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Dec. 3, 2009 - For the second consecutive year, Regions Hospital has earned a "highest value" rating from a national organization responsible for measuring and reporting the quality and safety of hospitals. The Leapfrog Group placed Regions among just 45 "highest value" hospitals in the nation, based on how well and how efficiently it treats patients.

To be considered a highest value hospital, Regions had to meet several criteria, including stringent performance standards for complex, high-risk procedures (such as heart bypass surgery) and receive high scores on a number of efficiency standards for heart bypass surgery, heart angioplasty, heart attack and pneumonia patients.

In selecting the highest value hospitals, Leapfrog reviewed more than 1,200 hospitals in its annual survey. The Leapfrog Group is the first national quality organization to evaluate and identify hospitals providing excellent quality and at the same time demonstrating an appropriate use of resources for specific procedures. For more information, go to www.leapfroggroup.org.

Mayo Clinic Saint Marys and Mayo Clinic - Methodist Hospital were the only other Minnesota facilities to join Regions on the list of top urban hospitals.

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Regions Hospital
Regions Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a private, non-profit hospital providing outstanding care in womens health, heart, cancer, surgery, orthopaedics, neurosciences, burn, emergency care and more. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Additional information is available at www.regionshospital.com.

About Leapfrog Group
The Leapfrog Group uses its members' collective leverage to initiate, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans. The Leapfrog Group was founded in November 2000 breakthrough improvements in the safety by the Business Roundtable and is supported by its members, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and other sources.

Contact: 651-254-4730