Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Rated Among Nation's Top 3 Hospitals for Pediatric Asthma Care
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and one of the most frequent reasons for admission to hospitals. While asthma-management treatments and medications have improved in recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of children with asthma.
Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital has been rated among the nation's top healthcare facilities for performance in providing pediatric asthma care. The Hollywood, Florida, hospital was recognized by the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions for meeting the requirements of compliance in 348 out of 355 individual evaluations – an average rate of 98.03 percent. This is the third-highest rate of compliance by a pediatric asthma program evaluated by The Joint Commission for the Children's Asthma Care (CAC) core measures in 2010. Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital was the only hospital in Florida to make the top 10 list.
The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization, accredits and certifies more than 19,000 healthcare organizations in the United States.
Notably, 94 percent of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital patients received a "Home Management Plan of Care," which includes scheduling a follow-up appointment after discharge. This rate, significantly higher than the national average of 65 percent and Florida average of 77 percent, reflects Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital's commitment to family asthma involvement and education.
Success Signaled by Declining Readmissions
Since enrolling in the CAC program in 2007, the number of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital asthma patients readmitted within 30 days to any Memorial Healthcare System hospital declined from 2.21 percent to 0.57 percent in 2010. The reduced readmission rates indicate improved success in children's asthma management.