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About this Measure
A major complication is described as leaks, intestinal injuries and major respiratory complications that occur within 30 days of bariatric surgery for weight loss.
A lower score is better for this measure.
What is a Benchmark?
Southcoast compares all of its internal quality measures against benchmarks to help gauge our performance. Benchmarks are usually an external suitable comparison group, such as a national average, or an expected target set by an external agency. When none are available, Southcoast sets its own internal performance goals.
This benchmark: The benchmark for this measure comes from the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery database, which creates a national average from hundreds of hospitals nationwide.
What Does This Mean?
The major complications rate is 3.4 percent nationally. This rate will never be zero since there is always a risk of complications with surgery as every person is unique. The rate combines a number of major complications that are common to bariatric surgery as reported in medical literature.
Southcoast's major complications rate is better than the national benchmark rate.
When comparing institutions, make sure the measures are reported the same way.
What Southcoast is Doing to Improve this Measure
Southcoast follows many best-practice steps in effort to eliminate all types of surgical complications. When a complication does occur, each case is thoroughly reviewed to determine if any changes can be made to eliminate the risk of complications. In addition, our staff keeps abreast of developments reported in the medical literature and incorporates new surgical methods into our practice when appropriate to do so.
A Note About Our Data
This data is from our bariatric surgery program, which does all of its surgeries at Tobey Hospital. Click here for more information.
Trend for this Measure
This chart shows how this measure has changed over the past eight quarters.
Contact Us
Quality and patient safety is extremely important to Southcoast Hospitals. Let us know whether this information is helpful or how we could better serve you.
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