For the ninth and final part of my research, I took a look at the hospital-acquired infections in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). I specifically looked at the most well known Health ACOs and I compared them to well known non – ACOs. Additional information on hospital-acquired infections can be found on The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ‘ website.

Hospital-Acquired Infection Rates

Health Insurance ACOs
Advocate Christ Medical Center / Blue Cross Blue Shield – 0.32
Hoag Memorial Hospital / Blue Cross Blue Shield – 0.35
Doctors Medical Center Modesto / Blue Cross Blue Shield - 0.45
Methodist LeBonheur / Blue Cross Blue Shield - 0.20
Montefiore / Blue Cross Blue Shield – 0.20
St. Joseph Hospital California / Blue Cross Blue Shield – 0.30
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center / Cigna – 0.55
Mt Carmel Hospital Ohio / Cigna – 0.40
New York Presbyterian / Cigna - 0.35
Horton Hospital / Humana - 0.35

Average Hospital-Acquired Infection Rate: 0.35

Non- Health Insurance ACOs
Barnes Jewish - 0.30
Beth Israel Deaconess – 0.30
Brigham and Womens – 0.43
Deaconess Hospital Evansville – 0.40
Franciscan Health Indiana – 0.20
Heartland Regional – 0.45
Hermann Memorial – 0.30
Indiana University Health – 0.20
Methodist Dallas – 0.45
Torrance Memorial – 0.40
University of Iowa Hospitals – 0.34
Wellstar Kennestone – 0.30

Average Hospital-Acquired Infection Rate: 0.34

Non-ACOs
Centennial Medical Center (HCA) – 0.32
Emory University Hospital – 0.42
Ochsner Health System – 0.25
Touro Infirmary -0.36
Tulane University Medical Center (HCA) – 0.38
University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital – 0.29
University of Chicago Hospitals – 0.25
University of Kentucky Hospital – 0.40
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – 0.45
University of California San Francisco Medical Center – 0.30
University of Tennessee Hospital – 0.30
Vanderbilt University Medical Center – 0.24

Average Hospital-Acquired Infection Rate: 0.33

Hospital-Acquired Infections higher in Health Insurance ACOs than in Non-ACOs.

As you can see from the above results, Health Insurance ACOs have a much higher hospital-acquired infection rates than Non-ACOs. More research is needed to determine the exact reason. For complete results of my research, please read the post titled “Health Insurance ACOs are Failing”.