In recently released ratings, San Joaquin Community Hospital was rated high performing for COPD care in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Common Care.

U.S. News evaluated hospitals in five procedures and medical conditions — heart bypass surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — and rated them as high performers, average or below average. Nationwide, only about 10 percent of hospitals were rated as high performers. In Kern County, SJCH was the only hospital recognized in any of the five categories.

San Joaquin Community Hospital’s ranking for COPD care is particularly significant, given the volatile air quality of our region.

Although COPD is often caused by smoking, it can also result from long-term exposure to lung irritants, including industrial dust and chemical fumes.

“One of the main focuses for our hospital is to improve the health status of our community,” said Doug Duffield, SJCH President and CEO. “We do this through educational seminars and events focused on preventing chronic disease, but also through the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Read the full story at www.bakersfield.com