Despite the fact that the US is the richest country in the world, it's also one of the least healthy. How many deaths could have been avoided if the US had a similar mortality rate as other wealthy countries? More
“Citizens put their lives and billions of tax dollars in the hands of America’s hospitals,” said Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, in a press release. “We believe communities should have expectations and the most socially responsible institutions should be lifted up as models for the system.” More
The most inclusive hospitals for Black Medicare patients get nearly $500 less in patients revenue per day than other hospitals, making it more difficult for these hospitals to improve quality and putting them at risk of closure. More
Concern about rising rates of cesarean deliveries has been renewed after the CDC released their latest data. More
A new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that different compensation models can open and close the gender pay gap. How does this happen and what does it say about our healthcare system? More
The new US News & World Report "best hospitals" ranking is out... How do these hospitals do on the Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility? More
Rural hospitals have been struggling financially for years, with many forced to close down. Will a new CMS plan help them keep their doors open? More
The social responsibility index is perhaps the Lown Institute’s highest-profile review of not-for-profit and nonprofit health care systems and hospitals. The institute’s focus is analyzing the socioeconomic impact of the systems and hospitals, particularly as it relates to the tax exemptions they receive compared with community benefits and the charity care they provide.
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Among America's most prestigious hospitals, prices for common tests and services vary considerably, a new study finds. More
Deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections were decreasing, until COVID-19 happened. How does this reflect our pill-for-every-ill culture? More
Overuse is prevalent in hospitals across the country -- but what about VA hospitals, where providers are paid a salary rather than fee-for-service? More
In a new set of hospital rankings released last month, Duke Regional Hospital in Durham was named the nation’s second-most “socially responsible” hospital, while other Triangle- and North Carolina-based hospitals also received high marks. The rankings, released annually since 2020 by nonprofit think tank the Lown Institute, are the first “to define clear, measurable standards for hospital social responsibility, providing “benchmarks for hospitals to measure how well they serve their patients and communities.” More
Between staffing shortages, long hours, and low-pay, essential hospital employees are struggling. How did it get this way? More
Two Saint Alphonsus Hospitals have received recognition as ‘Top Socially Responsible Hospitals’ by the Lown Institute, a nonprofit think tank that focuses on health care systems. The medical centers in Nampa, Idaho and Ontario, Oregon were both rated in the top 10 “Most Socially Responsible” hospitals in the United States according to a new ranking by the Lown Institute.
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Nonprofit hospitals in the U.S. are exempt from most taxes. To earn this status, they are supposed to engage in activities that benefit their communities, such as providing free care to uninsured people or programs to improve neighborhood health. For many, though, their real community contributions fall far short of the tax breaks they receive. More
How much are nonprofit hospitals giving back to communities? It depends on what you count, Lown Institute leaders explain in a new op-ed. More
The first year of COVID-19 was incredibly difficult for hospitals, as they dealt with an unknown virus, shortages of staff and equipment, financial difficulties and other challenges. To better understand how the pandemic affected hospitals, the Lown Institute analyzed the number of weeks from March 1, 2020, to Feb. 28, 2021, in which hospitals had at least 10 percent of inpatient beds filled with COVID-19 patients as reported in CDC data. More
Congress is considering having Medicare fund blood screening tests, also known as liquid biopsies. Could this lead to cascade events and medical overuse? More
St. Mary-Corwin Hospital has been named one of the most socially responsible medical centers in the nation for practicing equity while offering both value and results. Ranked No. 12 in the U.S. by the Lown Institute for its social responsibility, St. Mary-Corwin was graded on more than 50 metrics such as racial inclusivity of patients, employee pay equity and avoidance of unnecessary and potentially harmful procedures.
Why do so few hospitals get top grades on equity AND outcomes? The answer has to do with systemic inequities within our healthcare system and how they drive hospital behavior. More