Those treated for heart attacks in Washtenaw County hospitals appear to have a slightly lower risk of death than patients who go to other hospitals around the state.

That's according to a USA Today analysis of government Medicare data from more than 4,500 hospitals, which found heart attack death rates have dropped in the U.S in recent years. According to the report - with information detailed in an interactive graphic, the University of Michigan has the lowest death rate among heart attack patients in Michigan at 12.1 percent between 2006 and 2009.

In that time, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital closely trailed U-M with a death rate among heart attack patients of 12.7 percent. At Chelsea Community Hospital, the death rate among heart attack patients was 16.8 percent between 2006 and 2009. Chelsea Community Hospital was acquired by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's parent company, Trinity Health, in 2009.

USA Today said it released its analysis on heart attack mortality in light of an effort by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a few years ago to improve patient outcomes by publicly reporting how consistently hospitals provided recommended treatments.

The report showed the readmission rates within a month of discharge remained close to 25 percent for heart failure patients and 20 percent for heart attack and pneumonia patients. That is little improved from previous rates, which "drives up costs and raises concerns about transition from hospital to home," the report said.

The three Washtenaw County hospitals saw about one in five heart attack patients readmitted in the month for the same condition and one in four heart failure patients readmitted.

Death rates at U.S. hospitals averaged between 14.5 percent and 17.9 percent.

Local medical organization hires two new docs

IHA recently hired two new physicians to its Obstetrics and Gynecology division, it announced this week.

Cameron Mouro will join the Ann Arbor OB/GYN department. Erin Cook will join IHA Associates Gynecology and Obstetrics and will see patients in both Ann Arbor and Brighton.

To obtain more information, visit www.ihacares.com or call 734.434.0477.

Grief services planned at Arbor Hospice

Arbor Hospice will offer free grief support programs through the summer.

A general loss support group will meet Wednesdays until July 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will also meet Wednesday between Aug. 4 and Aug. 25. On the second Saturday of each month, Arbor Hospice will hold a memory book-making program for all ages.

A children's support group called Art from the Heart, which uses art therapy, will meet the first and third Saturdays of the month at Arbor Hospice from 1-3 p.m. It's targeted for grieving children between kindergarten and 8th grade.

Arbor Hospice will also hold a program called "Grief 101: What to Expect when Grieving" on Tuesday, Aug. 31 from 7-8 p.m. to provide resources and information for coping with the loss of a loved one. It also holds a regular social group called lunch bunch for those who have lost a spouse or partner.

The events are open to the public, regardless of whether a person is a family member of someone who has received care from Arbor Hospice. Donations are accepted.

They will be held at 2366 Oak Valley Dr. in Ann Arbor.

For more information on any of the programs, contact Arbor Hospice Grief Support Services at 734-794-5375 or email info@arborhospice.org.

To get information about a local health event or announcement mentioned in the health briefs, contact reporter Tina Reed at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.