title: Reply to Letter: "Ability to Prevent Death as a Sequelae of Morbidity May Be an Additional Indicator of Hospital Quality".
authors.affiliation: Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons; and Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Pritzker, School of Medicine Chicago, IL RMerkow@facs.org Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine Washington University in St Louis and Barnes Jewish Hospital; Center for Health, Policy and the Olin Business School at Washington University in St Louis; and Department of Surgery, John Cochran Veterans Affairs Medical Center St Louis, MO Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, American College of Surgeons Chicago, IL Department of Surgery University of California; and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Merkow
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Clifford Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care