Hospital Care Improved For Heart Patients

A new report says U.S. hospitals have improved care for three deadly conditions but quality still varies widely among the states.

The report released today is from the Joint Commission, a hospital accrediting group based in Oakbrook Terrace.

The report says nearly all heart attack patients now get aspirin when they arrive at the hospital, a treatment that can save lives.

But many heart failure patients still don't get specific instructions about the follow-up care they need when they leave the hospital.

The report examines how well more than 3,000 hospitals are following guidelines for care of heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. It says quality consistently improved from 2002 to 2005.

source:www.cbs2chicago.com