Overlake Hospital Medical Center has received a top five-star rating for the quality of care for multiple, major surgical procedures including joint replacement, total knee replacement, valve replacement, spine surgery, back and neck surgery, spinal fusion and carotid surgery by HealthGrades, the healthcare ratings company.

Overlake is also the recipient of the HealthGrades Spine Surgery Excellence Award and named Best in the Region for Spinal Surgery.

The findings were included in the 11th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which analyzed more than 41 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2005 to 2007 at the nation’s approximately 5,000 non-federal hospitals. Also according to the study, patients treated at the nation’s top-rated hospitals for 17 common procedures and conditions have a 70 percent lower chance of dying compared to those treated at the lowest-rated hospitals. The procedures and conditions range from heart attack and pneumonia care to respiratory failure.

Since 2003, Overlake has been part of the national effort among hospitals to implement and monitor evidence-based practices for all surgical patients. This effort has resulted in significant improvements in the prevention of surgical site infections, deep vein thrombosis and cardiac complications.

Hospitals with outcomes that are above average to a statistically significant degree receive a five-star rating. Hospitals with average outcomes receive a three-star rating, and hospitals with outcomes that are below average receive a one-star rating.