The report, “Aiming Higher: Results from a Scorecard on State Health System Performance, 2015 Edition,” ranks the health systems of every state and the District of Columbia based on 42 health care measures grouped into five dimensions of performance: access and affordability, prevention and treatment, avoidable hospital use and cost, healthy lives, and equity. Minnesota was the only state that was rated in the top quartile for all five dimensions measured.   

“MHA thanks our hospital and health system care team members for the exceptional care they provide and their prevention efforts," said Lawrence Massa, president and CEO of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). "These results tangibly demonstrate once again how Minnesota hospitals and health systems are strengthening healthy communities.”   

Minnesota No. 1 for healthy lives measures

In addition to its top overall rank, Minnesota rates first in the nation in the category of healthy lives, which includes measures that affect people’s ability to lead long and healthy lives – like rates of smoking, premature death and obesity. The report said that if all states performed as well as Minnesota, there would be approximately 84,000 fewer premature deaths before age 75 for conditions that can be detected early and effectively treated with good follow-up care. 

The report also identified Minnesota hospitals and health systems as leaders in helping patients reduce avoidable readmissions and spend more nights at home. Minnesota ranks fifth in the nation for lowest hospital readmission rates. In 2010, MHA and a broad-based coalition of hospitals and care providers launched the largest coordinated health care quality improvement initiative ever undertaken in the state, the Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively (RARE) Campaign. The RARE campaign has helped prevent 8,606 events of patient harm and 10,910 readmissions as a result of a reduction in hospital-acquired conditions since 2011. This has saved $112.8 million in health care costs and allowed patients to spend 43,640 more nights at home. 

To learn more about how MHA and Minnesota hospitals are focusing on quality and patient safety to improve care, visit www.mnhospitals.org/patient-safety. 

The Minnesota Hospital Association represents 143 hospitals and health systems, which provide quality care for their patients and meet the needs of their communities.   

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