JOHNSTOWN -- A report from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council rates 16 categories of ailments, and the mortality rates from reported cases of those ailments.

At Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, five of them -- heart failure, pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis and stroke -- were all rated 'higher than expected' compared to last year, which is causing concerns and raising questions.

Overall, the report shows statewide hospital mortality rates decreased from 2011 to 2016 in 12 of the 16 conditions reported.

But, looking specifically here locally: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center had higher than expected mortality rates in four categories and higher readmission rates in three.

A breakdown of the numbers from the report illustrates how much higher the report says the actual deaths were than those expected.

The breakdown of the numbers also showed that the changes in hospital readmission rates for Conemaugh for heart failure, sepsis and pneumonia were not drastic.

"We are disappointed in our results and a bit surprised because in other national and regional quality programs, we routinely receive recognition for good outcomes,” Dr. Susan Williams, chief medical officer at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, said in a hospital statement.

Williams noted "a number of common themes" among patients in the time period the report addresses, including that most patients were in their 80s or 90s, had diabetes or had a do not resuscitate order.

“The hospital takes each publicly reported survey seriously and uses it as an opportunity to improve, as quality and safety are top priorities,” Williams went on to say in the statement.

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