Kansas University Hospital admitted a record number of patients this year, eclipsing the 20,000 mark for the first time.
Among other key figures in the hospital's annual report, to be released today, outpatient hospital visits were up more than 7 percent, to 270,537, and emergency visits were up 7 percent, to 41,194.
"I attribute the record number of patients to the high quality of care provided at the hospital," said KU Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bob Page. "Patient satisfaction and patient outcomes are tied to patient volume."
Page said that just this week the hospital opened another intensive care unit and will have 14 additional beds when some renovation work is completed in its existing ICU unit.
Page said that this had been one of the best years for the hospital in terms of outside recognition for effective patient care.
In fiscal 2007, KU Hospital was:
¢ Ranked fifth in the nation among academic medical centers by the University HealthSystem Consortium.
¢ Ranked 30th in the nation for heart care and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
¢ Ranked in the top 6 percent for patient satisfaction among academic medical centers nationally using the Press Ganey survey.
¢ Became the first Kansas-based hospital to receive Magnet designation for nursing excellence and outstanding patient care and outcomes.
"We don't wake up in the morning trying to get this award or that award, but we try to take great care of patients," Page said.
Page said it was clear that the approach was working. He cited the case of a southeast Kansas man who came to KU Hospital with little hope of ever walking again after falling 30 feet onto a concrete surface. After months of rehabilitation, he walked himself over to the KU Hospital administrative offices to thank them.
"When you don't wake up in the morning looking for recognition and then it comes, that's pretty motivating," Page said.
The annual report also showed that uncompensated care continues to grow for KU Hospital. In fiscal 2007, uncompensated care rose to nearly $100 million - three-quarters of which went to Kansas residents.
"It's been a challenge to us for some time," Page said. "But we have an obligation to the state of Kansas to provide care for sick Kansans, and we'll never stop doing that."
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