Beta Blockers Given at Discharge

Percent of Heart Attack Patients Given Beta Blockers at Discharge
July 2008 - June 2009

What the graph is saying

For this measure, higher percentages are better. The graph above shows
that HealthEast, St. Joseph's and St. John's are above the Minnesota average. St. John's score is consistent with the top hospitals in the country. During the timeframe, Woodwinds saw less than 25 patients who fit this measure, so hospital performance could not be predicted.

You can compare all hospitals' performance at the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site. Its data will be slightly older than the data reflected on the HealthEast web site.

Why is this measure important?

Beta blockers are a type of medicine that is used to lower blood pressure, treat chest pain (angina) and heart failure, and to help prevent a heart attack. Beta blockers relieve the stress on your heart by slowing the heart rate and reducing the force with which your heart muscles contract to pump blood. They also help keep blood vessels from constricting in your heart, brain, and body. If you have a heart attack, you should get a prescription for a beta blocker before you leave the hospital.

Description above from the United States Department of Health & Human Services Hospital Compare web site: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

* The "Top U.S. Hospitals" represent the top 10% of all hospitals reporting information to Hospital Compare.

Go to the next heart attack measure.