A report released this week by the Joint Commission shows a rise in the quality of care in US hospitals for heart attacks, pneumonia, surgeries, and children’s asthma.

The major healthcare accrediting body collected data from more than 3,000 accredited hospitals across the country and a steady improvement in these areas over the eight year period ranging from 2002 to 2009.

The heart attack care result jumped from 88.6 percent in 2002 to 97.7 percent last year, and is attributed to steps such as giving patients aspirin when they arrive at hospitals, and prescribing beta-blocking medication when they are discharged.

Substantial improvement was also seen in surgical care, including appropriate use of antibiotics; the score rose to 96 percent from 77 percent in 2004.

"It is very encouraging that this year's report shows high rates of performance on these critical process measures and high levels of consistent excellence among hospitals on many measures,” said Dr. Mark Chassin, the commission's president in a news release.

"Hospitals devote enormous resources and energy to using these performance measures to drive improvement in their clinical processes. This report demonstrates that these efforts are resulting in consistently improving patient care in America's hospitals,” Chassin added.

Improvements are still called for in a number of areas, for example, only 55.2 percent of hospitals achieved 90 percent compliance or better in providing fibrinolytic therapy to heart attack patients within 30 minutes of arrival. Only 67.5 percent of hospitals achieved 90 percent compliance or better in providing antibiotics to intensive care unit pneumonia patients within 24 hours of arrival.

"Hospitals devote enormous resources and energy to using these performance measures to drive improvement in their clinical processes. This report demonstrates that these efforts are resulting in consistently improving patient care in America's hospitals."