For Immediate Release

Contact:

Bobby Maldonado

248-858-6662

Bobby.Maldonado@stjoeshealth.org

November 26, 2018

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Nov. 26, 2018) – St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor was recently named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular

Hospitals by IBM Watson Health formerly Truven Health Analytics . The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™

study is now in its 20 year. This is the ninth time St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor has been recognized with this honor.

"We are thrilled to again be recognized as having one of the best cardiovascular programs in the country," said Bill Manns, president of St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston hospitals. "Our patients benefit from our team of experienced cardiovascular specialists, advanced technology and access to promising clinical trials. That is why we are a highly sought-after destination for some of the most complicated and challenging heart conditions."

The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study uses 2016 and 2017 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, 2017 Medicare cost reports (2016 if 2017 reports were not available) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare published in the second quarter of 2018. Hospitals were scored in key value-based performance areas: riskadjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, wage- and severity-adjusted average cost per case and, new this year, CMS 30-day episode payment measures.

When compared with other U.S. acute care hospitals providing cardiovascular care that were included in in this study, the Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals consistently outperformed on clinical outcomes, efficiency, and 30-day readmissions, providing higher quality at a lower cost.

The cardiovascular program at St. Joe's offers patients a full spectrum of care, including a comprehensive structural heart program, da Vinci robotic heart surgery, interventional cardiology, access to clinical trials, noninvasive testing, intensive cardiac rehabilitation and preventative programs including risk-factor management classes, stress reduction, support groups, and heart-healthy nutrition and exercise classes.

If all cardiovascular providers in the United States performed at the level of this year's winners (based on Medicare patients only), results industry-wide could amount to: over 10,300 additional lives saved, $1.8 billion saved, and 2,800 additional bypass and angioplasty patients could be complication-free.

“Cardiovascular disease is among the most widespread and costliest diseases in the U.S. with an annual price tag of roughly $317 billion," said Ekta Punwani, 100 Top Hospitals® program leader at IBM Watson Health. "It is estimated that cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately $1 out of every $6 spent on healthcare in the country. That’s why it is so critical that hospitals find new and innovative ways to deliver better care at a lower cost. The winning hospitals in our study have established the new benchmark for cardiac care performance by driving consistently better outcomes at a lower cost per case than non-winning hospitals.” For more information regarding the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™, please visit www.100tophospitals.com.

About the IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals Program

The IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals, formerly the Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals, program uses independent, objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance. Organizations do not apply or pay for this honor or pay to promote their award for top performance. Award-winning hospitals and health systems prove that better care is possible and provide an example for other organizations to follow across the industry. The 100 Top Hospitals award winners demonstrate top performance on both how patients are cared for under clinical measures and how the hospital performs as an efficient business.

100 Top Hospitals is a registered trademark of IBM. Visit 100tophospitals.com for more information.

About IBM Watson Health

IBM Watson Health is dedicated to the development and implementation of cognitive and data-driven technologies to advance health. Watson Health technologies are tackling a wide range of the world's biggest healthcare challenges including cancer, diabetes, drug discovery and more. Learn more at ibm.com/watson/health.

About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne,

Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443-bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $115 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 133,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $17.6 billion and assets of about $24.7 billion. Additionally, the organization returns almost $1.1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.stjoeshealth.org.