High Volumes Mean Better Results

Through May of 2009, no hospital in South Carolina had performed more CABG surgeries than Providence Hospitals (333, more than twice the average of the next nine hospitals on the list).

Evidence clearly shows a link between high volume and positive outcomes. Although the exact reason why volume impacts outcomes is not clear, several proposed factors account for the strong relationship. The New England Journal of Medicine offers this hypothesis:

. . .high-volume hospitals may have more surgeons who specialize in specific procedures, more consistent processes for postoperative care, better-staffed intensive care units, and greater resources, in general, for dealing with postoperative complications.

New England Journal of Medicine
April 11, 2002