October 15, 2007 - Oklahoma City, OK--

McBride Clinic #1 Overall Orthopedic Hospital in Oklahoma: Study

HealthGrades® study finds patient outcomes at McBride Clinic among nation's best for Overall Orthopedic Services

Oklahoma City is home to the state's best hospital for overall orthopedic services, according to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study released today. The study found that McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital is rated the No. 1 orthopedics program in Oklahoma with five star ratings in joint replacement, total knee replacement, hip fracture repair, spine surgery and back and neck surgery. The hospital also received HealthGrades' 2008 Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award.

The study, the largest of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation's 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005, and 2006, and the results place McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital as the only Oklahoma hospital among the top five percent in the nation for overall orthopedic services.

"This award really puts us on the map when it comes to excellence in medicine and patient care, " said David Holden, M.D., chief of staff at McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital. "I'm so proud of our physicians and staff for their commitment to providing the best orthopedic care in the state and for performing among the best in the country."

This was the first year for the hospital to be eligible to achieve the distinction. "The fact that we received this award in our first year of eligibility makes it that much more special," Dr. Holden said. "McBride Clinic has been a part of this community for more than 80 years. The addition of McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital in 2005 extended our ability to provide comprehensive services. To now be recognized on a national level for our success is really an honor."

Oklahoma Benefits
With the aging of Baby Boomers and the continued resolve of sports enthusiasts and weekend warrior-types, Oklahoma stands to benefit from excellence in orthopedic patient care, according to Thomas Howard, M.D., president of McBride Clinic, Inc.

"Take arthritis for example," Dr. Howard said. "It is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and is most prevalent within the aging population. With Baby Boomers entering their 60s, the number of individuals living with arthritic pain and disability will escalate. Quality care and advanced treatments are necessary for these individuals to help them live the best life possible."

"The same goes for the younger population," Dr. Howard added. "We are seeing more and more individuals in their 40s needing joint replacement surgery because of their high level of athleticism and activity. We want to keep these individuals healthy, strong, mobile and as pain-free as possible for as long as possible, and that's why this distinction is so important to the health of our community."

The ratings illustrate a distinct difference in outcomes within best-performing hospitals versus those performing below average, the study's researchers contend. Across all procedures and conditions studied, there was an approximate 71 percent lower chance of dying in a 5-star rated hospital compared to a 1-star rated hospital, according to the study.

About the Study
The Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study identifies key trends in the quality of care provided by approximately 5,000 hospitals nationwide. HealthGrades researchers analyzed Medicare discharges from virtually every U.S. hospital between 2004 and 2006. Risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates were calcualted and hospitals were assigned a 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected), or 5-star (best) quality rating for 28 diagnoses and procedures from heart failure to hip replacement to pneumonia.

Based on the study, HealthGrades today made available its 2008 quality ratings for virtually every hospital in the country at www.healthgrades.com, a web site designed to help individuals research and compare local healthcare providers.

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 hospital's patient-safety outcomes, based on indicators developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

About McBride Clinic Orthopedic Hospital
Opened in 2005, the McBride Orthopedic Hospital has 64 acute care beds and 14 in-patient rehabilitation beds as well as a level 4 emergency room that's open 24 hours, 365 days a year. The hospital provides a full range of orthopedic surgical services, physical and occupational therapy, diagnostic imaging and other education and support programs. With more than 80 years of service to the Oklahoma community, McBride has clinic locations in downtown Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, an Occupational Health Center on West Reno and several rural outreach clinics.