I agree that numbers can be gamed, and it's possible that private hospitals might be particularly motivated to do so. Indeed, probably these numbers don't make much sense for anyone outside a small medical community of insiders to assess.

I'm not holding a torch for Cedars, but they are of similar stature for referrals AFAIK (not directly on-point, but indicative: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/About-Us/News/News-Releases-201...).