Aspirus Wausau Hospital (AWH) was named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals and as one of the five highest-ranked teaching hospitals without cardiovascular residency programs in a study by IBM Watson Health^TM.

The study spotlights the top-performing cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S. based on a balanced scorecard of publicly available clinical and operational data and transparent metrics.

This study is part of the IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® program which uses independent and objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance in key clinical and operational areas. The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study has been conducted annually since 1998. This is the 13^th time AWH has been recognized with this honor.

“This award exemplifies Aspirus’ profound commitment to providing advanced, high-quality cardiovascular care throughout Northcentral Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,” says German Larrain, MD, medical director of Aspirus Heart & Vascular. “Our patients have the confidence of knowing they are being cared for by highly trained and experienced cardiovascular specialists devoted to delivering the best outcomes possible." 

Aspirus professionals serve 450,000 residents of a 14-county region at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and at 11 regional clinic sites throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 

Based on the results of this year’s study, we extrapolate that if all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in the award-winning facilities:

• More than 11,000 additional lives could be saved;
• More than 2,800 additional heart patients could be complication-free; and
• Over $1.5 billion could be saved. 

“By finding ways to continuously improve and innovate, the winners of our 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study are identifying opportunities to deliver healthcare value to patients, communities, and payers,” said Ekta Punwani, MHA, 100 Top Hospitals® program leader at IBM Watson Health. “The top-performing hospitals demonstrated better clinical care and were more efficient than their peers at delivering this care.”

For more information, visit www.100tophospitals.com.