EDINA, MN (October 15, 2007) -- The quality of hospital-based care in America is improving, but the gap between top-performing and poor-performing hospitals continues to grow, according to a study released today by HealthGrades, which identifies Fairview Southdale Hospital as being ranked best in Minnesota for Cardiology, Coronary Interventions, Treatment of Stroke and Pulmonary Care. They rank among the top 5% in the nation for overall cardiac care, cardiology, coronary interventions, treatment of stroke and pulmonary care and the top 10% for critical care. HealthGrades is the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company.

According to The Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, Fairview Southdale Hospital is 5-star rated for:

- Coronary Interventional Procedures

- Treatment of Heart Attack

- Treatment of Heart Failure

- Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

- Treatment of Stroke

 - Treatment of Pneumonia

- Treatment of COPD

- Treatment of GI Bleed

- GI Procedures and Surgeries

- Treatment of Bowel Obstruction

- Treatment of Sepsis

- Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism

- Treatment of Respiratory Failure

 “I am extremely proud of the physicians and staff at Fairview Southdale Hospital for achieving exceptional clinical care in our patient treatment,” says Brad Beard, president of Fairview Southdale Hospital and Clinics.

The 2008 HealthGrades ratings for all hospitals nationwide are available, free of charge, on the organization’s award-winning consumer Web site, located at www.healthgrades.com. More than three million individuals and employees of some of the nation’s largest employers and health plans visit HealthGrades each month to access quality information about hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. HealthGrades also provides consumers and payers with detailed assessments of hospitals’ patient-safety outcomes, based on indicators developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

For more information contact:   
Julie Mikkelson  
952-924-5065     
mikkel1@fairview.org