Providence named among
top teaching hospitals in U.S.

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

SOUTHFIELD — Providence Hospital has been nationally recognized as among the top 100 hospitals in the country in a recent study that honored the St. John Health member for its educational efforts.

The facility was named one of the top 15 major teaching hospitals by Thomson Healthcare, a Connecticut organization dedicated to helping improve the healthcare industry. The study listed the top 100 hospitals in the country, and then listed top hospitals in categories, such as teaching.

“We’ve been recognized a number of times for our achievements in teaching, but this is the second time we’ve received this particular award,” said Brian Taylor, Providence spokesman, adding that the hospital’s first award of this kind was handed down in the mid-’90s. “We are pleased with the honor. It’s a tribute to the program we have set up at Providence and the doctors, nurses and volunteers who are all dedicated not in just treating the patients but in training the future doctors. We are confident in our program, in the doctors we have and in the research that we do.”

Providence is located at 16001 W. Nine Mile in Southfield. It has operated in the community for more than 40 years, and in southeast Michigan for more than 100 years.

“This (honor) tells the community that you have a world-class hospital in your backyard,” Taylor said. “For staff members, it tells you that you are making a difference for patients now and in the future.”

In addition to caring for patients’ needs, the hospital offers a residency program in which medical students are partnered with Providence doctors to learn the craft. Fourteen other hospitals across the country were recognized for their residency programs, including two others in Michigan: St. John Hospital and Health Center in Detroit and the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor.

“We’re in pretty elite company,” Taylor said.

The complete list of the top 100 features a total of 11 Michigan hospitals: University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor, St. John Hospital and Health Center in Detroit, Spectrum Health Hospitals in Grand Rapids, Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland, Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming, Garden City Hospital in Garden City, St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, Foote Health System in Jackson, Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Clare and St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital in Saline. Providence was the only Oakland County hospital to make the cut.

“Kudos to them,” said Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence. “It’s very good to have one of our own recognized on a national level.”

According to the Thomson study, the top 100 hospitals on the list have higher survival rates, keep more patients complication-free and attract more patients — all while maintaining financial stability.

In 2007, Thomson named Providence as one of the top 100 cardiovascular hospitals in the country. It is the only teaching hospital in southeast Michigan to receive that recognition seven years in a row, Taylor said.

Providence Hospital is a member of St. John Health, which has more than 125 medical centers and seven hospitals in five counties in southeast Michigan.

For more information about Providence, call (248) 849-3000 or visit www.stjohn.org. For more information about the results of the Thomson study, visit www.100tophospitals.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1108.