Virginia's leading hospitals
Hospital medical and surgical service lines

Virginia Business
January 2007

With over 860,000 hospital discharges each year, how can businesses and consumers take a look at what types of care hospitals provided? We asked Virginia Health Information (VHI) to help. VHI is a nonprofit health information company that collects this information under state law for the commonwealth. To make sense of all these records, VHI groups each hospital discharge into distinct 40 service lines to help businesses and consumers learn more about the care hospitals provide.

Virginia Business worked with VHI to list hospitals with the highest number of discharges for selected service lines within five Virginia regions. Hospitals with higher volume for a service line may have dedicated programs for certain types of care or have more experience with higher risk patients. This is important and helpful information. You should also talk with your doctor about your needs and preferences so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

VHI also publishes three other reports containing service line information:

- At www.vhi.org/hosp_acute.asp VHI has every hospital's service lines with information how many patients were treated, and the percent of the hospital's and regions patients treated for that service line.

- For three service lines related to cardiac care VHI has hospital volume, death (mortality) rates, 30 day readmission rates and how they compared with other hospitals available on their website.

- VHI's 2006 Industry Report: Virginia Hospitals and Nursing Facilities is designed for businesses and large purchasers of care. Within the Industry Report service lines include hospital volume, how long patients stayed and average charges. Copies of this report are available for purchase from VHI at its Web site or 1-877-VHI-INFO.

VHI also has consumer guides and reports on hospitals, physicians, HMOs, nursing facilities and other long-term health-care providers.

Cardiology 
The study of the heart’s action; the medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and therapy of heart diseases.

Dental 
Medical and/or surgical treatment of the teeth and surrounding structures and oral tissues. The services may or may not include endodontics, oral pathology, maxofacial surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, etc.

Dermatology 
The study of the skin’s structure, function and diseases; includes diagnosis and treatment of skin and nail disorders.

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery 
The combined surgical treatment that includes otology (ear), rhinology (nose) and laryngology (larynx/throat). Treatments, including surgery, may involve:
• Ears — the exterior and interior portions of the otological system;
• Nose — the olfactory system including exterior nasal passages and the anterior nasal cavity; and
• Throat — the pharyngeal, naso-pharyngeal or laryngeal areas including tonsils, adenoids and trachea.

See Also Otolaryngology

Endocrinology 
The study and treatment of the ductless organs and structures (glands) that secrete internally and of hormones. Endocrinology typically includes the endocrine glands, the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, pancreatic islet cells, the testes and the ovaries.  

Gastroenterology 
Specialty involving the study and treatment of the function and disorders of the organs of digestion, the alimentary (or gastrointestinal) tract: the esophagus, the stomach, large intestines (colon and cecum) and small intestines (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), sigmoid colon, rectum, gallbladder, pancreas, liver, spleen, biliary tract and bile duct.

General Medicine 
Treatment for those disorders that can fall under family practice or primary medical needs, which may include internal medicine or the diagnosis or treatment of internal organs, and that are not otherwise grouped into the specialty services listed in this report.

General Surgery 
Those surgical procedures not otherwise grouped into the specialty services listed in this report.

Gynecological Surgery 
Surgical treatment of the female reproductive system including ectopic pregnancy and early abortion.  See Obstetrics.  

Gynecology 
The medical specialty focused on the health care of women and on the diseases of the female genital tract, as well as the endocrinology and reproductive function of the female. The breast may be treated except for surgery.

Hematology 
The scientific medical study of blood and blood-forming tissues, including therapeutics and anatomy, physiology, pathology and symptomatology of blood cells. This category may include the laboratory study of the response of blood cells to radiation or chemotherapy.    

Infectious Diseases 
The clinical study and treatment of those diseases that can be caused by an infection; i.e., any communicable disease. These diseases can be transmitted from human to human, from animal to human, by direct or indirect contact; e.g., fevers of unknown origin, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV infection), herpes, central nervous system (CNS) infections, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis, rabies, and rickettsial infections (such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever). Bacterial infections such as streptococcal and chlamydial infections also fall under this classification, as well as those of spirochetal, protozoal, helminthic and mycotic causes.

Invasive Cardiology 
Diagnostic and invasive procedures that includes cardiac catheterizations, percutaneous procedures and angiograms of the heart.

Neonatology 
A branch of medicine, often a part of pediatric medicine, that is practiced for the period of time covering the first 28 days after birth and in which the neonate requires additional treatment or care beyond a normal birth, such as intensive care for a premature infant.

Nephrology 
The medical science primarily concerned with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the kidneys (the renal or nephric system) including treatment by dialysis and transplantation. Note: Not to be confused with urology, which deals primarily with the diseases and treatment of the genitourinary tract.

Neurological Surgery 
Any of various kinds of surgery of the nervous system. Often included are those procedures designed to restore physiological activity of nerves (functional neurosurgery), psychosurgery and stereotactic surgery.

Neurology 
The field of medicine dealing with the normal or diseased nervous systems (central, peripheral and autonomic, plus the neuromuscular junction and muscle). May include clinical neurology that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders.

Normal Newborns 
A branch of medicine, often a part of pediatric medicine, that is practiced for the period of time covering the first 28 days after birth and in which the infant experienced a normal delivery.

Obstetrics / Delivery
The specialty of medicine concerned with the obstetrical care of a woman and the fetus during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (approximately 6 weeks following birth).  See Other Obstetrics; Also See Gynecological Surgery. Obstetrical Delivery: Delivery of the fetus vaginally or by cesarean section, a surgical procedure.

Oncology 
Science/branch of medicine concerned with the study of the physical, chemical and biologic properties and features of abnormal tissue (neoplasm), including the treatment of both malignant and benign tumors.

Oncology Surgery 
Surgical procedures related to diagnostic or treatment of malignant and/or benign tumors.

Open Heart Surgery 
A surgical procedure that provides through an incision of the chest cavity a full view of the heart. Procedure may be used for, but is not limited to, cardiopulmonary bypass or heart valve surgery.

Ophthalmology 
The study and treatment of the physiology, anatomy and pathology of the eye and surrounding tissues such as the eye lid. This includes ocular infections, refractive errors, glaucoma, cataracts and other ocular disorders.

Ophthalmic Surgery
Surgical treatment of eye and lid disorders, such as cataract removal with lens implantation.

Orthopedic Surgery 
Preservation or restoration from disease or injury by surgical means of the function or condition of the musculoskeletal system, the spine and the extremities.

Orthopedics 
Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and correction of disorders of the locomotor system of the body, including the skeleton, muscles, joints and related tissues.  

Other Obstetrics 
Medical care provided by an obstetrician other than delivery; for example, nutrition counseling, immunizations, treatment for spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), prevention of preterm labor and anemia.  See Obstetrics; Also see Gynecological Surgery

Otolaryngology 
Branch of medicine concerned with medical and surgical treatment of head and neck, including the ears, nose and throat. See ENT.

Plastic Surgery 
Surgical procedures related to cosmetic or reconstructive surgery of face and body.

Psychiatry 
The diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental disorders by those medical specialists trained in the science of psychiatry.

Pulmonary 
Of or pertaining to lungs/respiratory system, to the pulmonary artery; to aperture leading from right ventricle into the pulmonary artery.

Rehabilitation 
Following a disabling disease, injury or addiction, spontaneous or therapeutic restoration of normal function or in a nearly normal manner. 

Rheumatology 
The science and medical study relating to diseases or disorders where inflammation or degeneration of tissue occur in the musculoskeletal system.

Transplant Surgery 
The procedures that involve  the movement of tissue or organs from one part of the body, or from a separate body, for the purpose of treatment by implantation or grafting. Included in this grouping are bone marrow, heart, liver and lung transplants.

Trauma, Multiple Significant 
Injury or injuries to the face, head and/or body. Trauma scored for severity and prevalence of injuries are categorized in the service line of Multiple  Significant Trauma. Less severe or prevalent injuries may be categorized under a different, specific service line.

Urological Surgery 
Treatment provided by surgical means of urinary and genitourinary tract disorders; for example, tumors of the prostate, bladder, kidney or testis.

Urology 
The medical specialty that is concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract in the female and both urinary and genitourinary tract in the male.

Vascular Surgery 
Surgical procedures relating to the blood vessels.