Rates of survival at the U.K.’s 16 specialist heart centers are now posted online. As reported on BBC News Web site, the data includes the number and range of procedures each hospital conducts and the survival rates for the most common surgeries. It includes the number and range of procedures each does and survival rates for the most common surgeries. However, the figures do not rate individual surgeons. The figures are also not adjusted for risk, which means other factors, such as the age or sex of the child or a particularly complex case, might skew the data. The NHS’ Information Centre (IC), which runs the new website, argues that data on individual surgeons would be misleading as treatment is delivered by a team rather than by an individual. The site also includes national averages for comparison and any hospitals that appear to be failing can be flagged to the appropriate authorities, the IC added.
- Heart ops data available online, BBC News, (5/31/2007)