Key result
Complex cancer surgery at 5-star hospitals is linked to ~38% lower 90-day mortality versus 1-star hospitals.
Why the study?
To address variability in hospital mortality after complex cancer surgery by evaluating the use of CMS Star Ratings to identify the safest hospitals.
Does treatment at 5-star CMS rated hospitals reduce 90-day mortality in patients older than 65 years undergoing complex cancer surgery compared to 1-star hospitals?
Observational (n=105,823)
Yes
Does treatment at 5-star CMS rated hospitals reduce 90-day mortality in patients older than 65 years undergoing complex cancer surgery compared to 1-star hospitals?
Absolute Event Rate: 6.4% vs 10.4%
Although mortality after complex cancer surgery is associated with CMS Star Rating, using these ratings to identify the safest hospitals would be relatively inefficient and have only modest impact.
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Star ratings were associated with lower surgical mortality; should not yet change referral practices as reassigning patients would be inefficient.
Papageorge et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Complex cancer surgery (n=105,823). 5-star hospitals (CMS Star Ratings) vs. 1-star hospitals was evaluated on 90-day mortality. 90-day mortality after complex cancer surgery was lower at 5-star hospitals (6.4%) compared to 1-star hospitals (10.4%), but using these ratings to reassign patients would be relatively inefficient.
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