REDLANDS, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/21/12 -- Redlands Community Hospital has once again been ranked among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals for overall orthopedic, spine and joint replacement services, according to a study released by Healthgrades, the nation's leading source of hospital data. This is the third year in a row that the hospital has been recognized.

For the past two years the hospital has partnered with area orthopedic specialists to improve the patient experience and quality of care in the provision of orthopedic surgery. Together they opened the Spine & Joint Institute (SJI) last January, a multi-specialty center dedicated to providing world-class care to patients with spine and complex joint and other orthopedic disorders. The unique collaboration model, the first of its kind in this Region, is designed to address the growing need for specialized care for the millions of patients who are suffering from knee, hip, back, and neck pain and other orthopedic conditions and injuries.

"This recognition is truly an honor for Redlands Community Hospital and its physician partners. Quality to us is an ongoing process and we use these measurements as a tool to continually provide exceptional outcomes," said Jim Holmes, Redlands Community Hospital President and CEO. "Congratulations to our orthopedic surgeons, nurses, rehab specialists and support staff for their tireless commitment to continuous quality improvement."

The report, American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, evaluates how approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide performed on risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for nearly 30 of the most common conditions treated and procedures performed from 2009 through 2012. For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 40 million Medicare hospitalization records for services performed from 2009 through 2011 at approximately 4,500 short-term, acute care hospitals nationwide. Patients being treated in hospitals receiving 5 stars have, on average, 61% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals receiving 1 star (based on 2009-2011 data across nine common procedures and diagnoses such as total knee replacement, gallbladder, and spine surgeries).

"The recognition underscores our daily commitment to providing the best quality patient care, not only in our community but in the nation as well," said Holmes.

Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of the analysis, and no hospital pays to be measured. Healthgrades risk adjusts for patient demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors, thereby taking into account how sick patients are upon admission.

About Redlands Community Hospital
Redlands Community Hospital is a 205-bed, independent not-for-profit facility located in Southern California. The hospital has been providing quality healthcare to neighbors in Redlands and surrounding communities since 1904. The hospital has 270 board certified physicians, 100 health plans, 1400 employees, and more than 300 volunteers. Many of our Inland Empire neighbors have come to rely on us for all their healthcare needs.