Reports: Quality and outcome indicators

Our passion for finding new and better approaches to patient care drives us to conduct clinical research and to measure the impact of our services. These activities help ensure that new advances in treatment benefit patients as quickly as possible, and support a dynamic environment for medical and nursing education.

In 2007, Abbott Northwestern established an Outcomes Institute through which physicians, nurses and other staff publish quality and outcome indicators. In 2008, the Institute began producing outcome reports for Abbott Northwestern's Centers of Excellence and Nursing Department.

2010 Minneapolis Heart Institute® outcome report

Minneapolis Heart Institute® sets the standard in cardiovascular care.

• The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is recognized internationally as one of the world’s leading providers of heart and vascular care.

Full report (published Aug. 2011)

More about Minneapolis Heart Institute®...

2009 WomenCare outcome report

Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s WomenCare® program recognizes and treats the special needs of women, from the childbearing years through menopause.

• Delivering more babies than any other hospital in the state of Minnesota, Abbott Northwestern is host to the the highest level experts and technology. We partner with Children's Hospitals and Clinics - Minnesota to provide care to mothers and babies and achieve superior outcomes.
• Abbott Northwestern’s support of the health care needs of women and their families also includes the services of the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, Minneapolis Heart Institute, Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing.

Full report (published Sept. 2010)

More about WomenCare...

2010 Spine Institute Overview and Outcomes Report

The Spine Institute provides comprehensive care for all types of spine problems. It represents the collaborative efforts of nationally known physicians and the spine-dedicated staff, facilities and capabilities at Abbott Northwestern.

• Every year, more spine surgeries are performed at Abbott Northwestern than at any other hospital in the state. This breadth of experience ensures comprehensive and innovative care for spine patients.
• Abbott Northwestern is designated as a Blue Distinction Center for spine surgery, a recognition of its expertise in offering comprehensive inpatient spine surgery services by board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons.
• Abbott Northwestern's medical experts in hospital-based medicine, intensive care, neurophysiology, neuroradiology, pain management and physiatry/rehabilitation all make significant contributions to the diagnosis, care and recovery of spine patients.

Full report (published 2010)

More about the Spine Institute ...

2008 Joint Replacement Center outcome report

Since opening in September 2008, Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center has improved the quality of life for hundreds of patients who were living with joint pain.

• Partnerships with expert anesthesiologists, the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and the Penny George Institute for Health & Healing allow the Joint Replacement Center to keep patients’ pain to a minimum and reduce the time it takes to get them back to their daily activities.
• The Joint Replacement Center is a part of Abbott Northwestern’s Orthopaedic Institute, which has been rated as one of America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report since 2005.
• Compared with other patients who have the same procedures, Joint Replacement Center patients are discharged sooner and are more likely to recover at home rather than in a nursing home.

Full report (published November 2009)

More about the Joint Replacement Center...

2011 Neuroscience Institute outcome report

Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Neuroscience Institute combines skilled physicians, experienced staff, advanced technology and focused programs to provide a comprehensive resource for the care of any neurological condition. Highlights from the Neuroscience Institute's 2011 report include:

• Abbott Northwestern receives more referrals of patients with neurological conditions and performs more neurosurgical and spinal operations than any other hospital in the Twin Cities.
• For the past nine years, the Neuroscience Institute has been ranked among the top 50 programs in the nations for neurology and neurosurgery.
• Abbott Northwestern has one of the oldest and most comprehensive stroke programs in the region and repeatedly earns recognition for quality of care, including The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction as a Primary Stroke Center. The program is further strengthened by its partnership with Sister Kenny® Rehabilitation Institute, the region’s leading provider of services to restore neurological function.

Full report (published 2012)

More about the Neuroscience Institute...

2008 Nursing Department outcome report

The strength and reputation of Abbott Northwestern's Nursing Department is evidenced in the more than 365 nurses who have been with the organization for more than 25 years. Highlights from the Nursing Department's 2008 report include:

• In 2007, Abbott Northwestern met or exceeded the goal of 85 percent optimal care for the core measures of heart failure, pneumonia and acute myocardial infection.
• Innovations such as hourly rounding, focused analysis of patient flow, and an Evidence-Based Fellowship Program were introduced to further advance nursing practice.
• The Nursing Department's Relationship-based Care Model is grounded in mutually respectful and collaborative relationships that are established with patients and their families, physicians and other members of the health care team to enhance care and assist those we serve.

Full report (published July 2008)

More about nursing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital...

2010 Penny George Institute for Health and Healing outcome report

As the largest hospital-based program of its kind in the country, the Penny George Institute is setting the national standard for enhancing health care through an integrative health approach. The 2010 Overview and Outcomes report highlights the Penny George Institute’s work in:

• blending evidence-based complementary therapies, integrative medicine and conventional Western medicine
• providing direct service to inpatients and outpatients
• educating health care professionals
• teaching the community about health promotion and personal responsibility for health
• conducting research to identify best practices and the economic impact of integrative health.

Full report (published September 2010)

More about the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing...

2008 Virginia Piper Cancer Institute outcome report

At the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, physicians, nurses and allied health care providers offer each patient comprehensive care in a compassionate setting. Highlights from the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute's 2008 report include:

• U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Abbott Northwestern as one of the nation’s Best Hospitals for cancer care.
• The Virginia Piper Cancer Institute is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers, focusing on complex inpatient and surgical care. This complex and rare cancer designation was given to only 85 hospitals nationally.
• Eight organ-focused programs use a care model focused on multidisciplinary specialized care. Members from all relevant care and support specialties meet on a regular basis to review the care of new and existing patients. Each team is lead by a medical director and nurse coordinator, and is composed of specialists from a wide variety of fields who work together to facilitate the diagnostic process, to consider all available therapeutic options, establish a care plan and monitor progress.

Full report (published March 2009)

More about the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute...

The Outcomes Institute

The Outcomes Institute and its reports are supported by funding from the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation. The commitment of the Foundation and Abbott Northwestern's generous donors to improving patient care through these efforts is greatly appreciated.