Lower Bucks, Barix Clinic Rated Among Worst Hospitals In Philadelphia Region By Medicare

Two local medical facilities received some not so good news recently.

According to Medicare, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township is one of the most dangerous hospitals for patients in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

The rating, performed by Medicare on three levels, estimates to penalize hospitals with high rates of potentially avoidable mistakes.

Of the worst 15 hospitals on the list, all of them are in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Lower Bucks is rated ninth. Nearby Barix Clinics of Pennsylvania in Middletown Township was rated second worst in the Philadelphia region with an overall HAC rating of 8.95. St. Marys Medical Center in Middle Township received an overall rating of 5.875 and was not included in the 1 percent reduction in Medicare payments.

Medicare rated hospitals, some in South Jersey and some in Southeastern Pennsylvania, on three Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC). The first being central-line associated bloodstream infections, the second being catheter-associated urinary tract infections and the third being serious complications including blood clots, bed sores and falls.

Hospitals were rated on a score of 1 to 10 on each category, hospitals which received an overall score of seven or higher will have their Medicare payments reduced by 1 percent from October 2014 to September 2015.