VICTORIA - Recent data from the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) shows a significant decrease in unexpected hospital deaths in all B.C. health authorities.

CIHI uses a measure called Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio, or HSMR, to compare a hospital’s inpatient mortality rate with the average Canadian rate from 2009 - which is set at the baseline of 100. When hospital deaths decrease, the HSMR also decreases. Over the past five years - B.C.’s HSMR has dropped from 96 to 81 - the best provincial HSMR rate in the country.

“These excellent results, which we see across all health authorities, is a testament to our dedicated health-care professionals, and the programs we have put in place to ensure patient safety,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “Our goal is to see continual improvement in this measure, as part of our strategic priorities for health care.”

HSMR is used by health authorities to track progress in providing safe patient care and for the programs that they use to provide it. It provides a starting point for administrators to assess hospital mortality rates and identify areas of improvement. 

All health authorities in B.C. have shown a decrease in HSMR from 2009-10 to 2013-14, and CIHI rated all health authorities as ‘above average’ on this indicator for 2013-14.

Health Authority: Fraser Health
2009-10 HSMR: 102
2013-14 HSMR: 82

Health Authority: Vancouver Coastal Health
2009-10 HSMR: 90
2013-14 HSMR: 79

Health Authority: Northern Health
2009-10 HSMR: 93
2013-14 HSMR: 83

Health Authority: Interior Health
2009-10 HSMR: 88
2013-14 HSMR: 76

Health Authority: Island Health
2009-10 HSMR: 105
2013-14 HSMR: 85

British Columbia
2009-10 HSMR: 96
2013-14 HSMR: 81

Canada
2009-10 HSMR: 100
2013-14 HSMR: 85

Learn more:

You can find more information about hospital data for your hospital or health authority at CIHI’s Your Health System website: yourhealthsystem.cihi.ca 

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)