The report, released on Thursday, said that mortality rates are down for hospitals across the state, but also found that readmittance numbers are up.

From 2004 to 2006, hospital deaths have dropped from 4.7 percent to 4.4 percent. Medical experts at Windber Medical Center said they aren't surprised by the news and equate it with increased public awareness.

Expert said people are paying more attention to their health and aren't taking any chances if they feel something is wrong.

While the overall news is good for state hospitals, there are some areas where mortality rates actually increased. Indiana Regional Medical Center said there are more deaths from COPD, or pulmonary disease, as well as respiratory failure, intestinal bleeding and stroke.

Clarion Hospital saw increases in the congestive heart failure deaths as well as deaths from kidney and urinary tract infection and respiratory failure. Windber Hospital also saw in increase in mortality rates from pneumonia, stroke and kidney failure.

According Diana Pringle, a local nurse, the majority of deaths are hospice patients and are rarely under the age of 70. Pringle said she isn't surprised by the increase in deaths from respiratory failure and pneumonia since the Alleghenies are known for coal mining.