Sentara Healthcare named one of top 5 U.S. large health systems

Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare was named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in an annual ranking by Fortune and IBM Watson Health released Tuesday.

Sentara landed in fifth place, receiving five stars for clinical outcomes and operation efficiency and three stars for patient experience. This is the second year Sentara was ranked among the nation’s top 15 health care systems by Fortune and IBM. Also, Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk was named the No. 2 teaching hospital in the U.S., with five stars in all categories, including financial health, clinical outcomes, operation efficiency and patient experience.

In the top medium community hospitals category, two Virginia hospitals were ranked. At No. 9 is Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg and in 17th place, Reston Hospital Center, which is owned by HCA Healthcare.

According to Fortune, IBM researchers evaluated 2,675 hospitals and 324 health systems for this year’s list, adding a new category judging hospitals on their community health engagement, such as offering home visits for the elderly and screening for drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence. Also under consideration were hospitals’ treatment of their workers and suppliers, as well as patients who have trouble paying bills.

“Sentara ranked highly in a number of areas, including reduced inpatient mortality rates and fewer health complications,” Sentara Healthcare President and CEO Howard P. Kern said in a statement. “We were also recognized for significant improvements in patients’ average length of stay and reduced emergency department wait times. We are honored to be named a top 15 health system and will continue to focus on improved patient care and outcomes for the communities we serve.”