According to statistics released today by the Minnesota Department of Health, 368 confirmed new cases of HIV were reported in Minnesota during 2009. The 368 new cases are the highest seen in 17 years. The Minnesota AIDS Project, the leading source for HIV information and services in Minnesota, believes that this data underscores its view that HIV prevention and education is at a critical point if we are to stop the increase in new cases.

Because the number of Minnesotans living with HIV continues to rise, and likely will given a greater percentage of the population living with the virus, there is an urgent need to ensure that current information about remaining safe is available to all who may be sexually active, especially those in high-risk communities. One of the primary risks of exposure is the fact that there are likely thousands of people in the state who do not know they are HIV-positive and are at risk for transmitting the virus to others.

“HIV is a preventable disease but we must talk about it to succeed. This younger generation was born sometime between 1986-1995 and became sexually active after the millennium. The message that they heard growing up was that AIDS was not a major problem in America and those living with HIV were living longer “normal” lives with the new medications. While true to some extent, this perception clouds the reality that HIV is at best a life-altering disease of medications and doctor visits for the rest of your life and, at worst, remains deadly.” said Lorraine Teel, executive director of the Minnesota AIDS Project. “We cannot be silent to our young adults about the risks that come along with sex. The fact that many in this age group are testing is a good step and means they’re hearing that message but we need to continue to invest in education to reinforce methods of reducing the risk for HIV to support long-term behavior change.”

Hospitals rated in the top 5% in the nation by HealthGrades have a 29% lower risk-adjusted mortality rate and are improving their clinical quality at a faster pace than other hospitals, according to a new study issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. Hospitals rated in the top 5% can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

In addition to having lower risk-adjusted mortality rates, hospitals in the top 5% – designated Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence by HealthGrades – also had risk-adjusted complication rates that were 9% lower than all other hospitals.

Now in its eighth year, the HealthGrades Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study examines patient outcomes at all 5,000 nonfederal hospitals in the country based on 40 million hospitalization records from 2006, 2007 and 2008 obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Participation is not voluntary, and no hospital can opt out of being rated. For each hospital, risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates are evaluated across 26 procedures and diagnoses, from heart attack treatment to valve-replacement surgery to total knee replacement.

“This independent study of mortality and complication rates identifies an elite group of hospitals that are setting the benchmark for outstanding patient outcomes,” said Rick May, M.D., HealthGrades Vice President of Clinical Excellence Research and Consulting and an author of the study. “And what’s extraordinary is that these hospitals are not standing still. In fact, the data show that they are continuing to improve their patient outcomes at a faster rate, reflecting a commitment to quality that stands as a model for all other hospitals.”

The 2010 study of Medicare patients also found:

• Thirty-six states have one or more hospitals in the top 5%. Delaware has the highest percentage of Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence at 50% of eligible hospitals, followed by Maryland, Minnesota, Florida and Connecticut.
• 150,132 patient deaths among Medicare patients may have been prevented and 13,104 inhospital complications among Medicare patients may have been avoided if all hospitals performed at the level of the top 5% of hospitals.
• The top 5% of hospitals showed greater overall improvement in risk-adjusted mortality from 2006 through 2008, with an average of 13.91% improvement versus 10.41% improvement for all other hospitals.