Two Rush University System for Health hospitals again were rated among the best in the country for safety in the latest grades awarded by the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization. Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital both received "A" grades, the highest possible.
Leapfrog announced the latest of its twice-yearly safety grades this month, awarding grades to the more than 2,600 hospitals in the United States that it evaluated for their commitment to reducing errors, infections, and accidents that can harm patients.
Since Leapfrog began rating hospitals on safety in 2012, Rush Copley has received the top grade every time, for a total of 16 "A" grades. Rush Copley is one of only 36 hospitals in the country (just 1.4% of those surveyed) to earn an "A" in every score release.
“Rush Copley’s team is dedicated to providing care that’s delivered with the highest standards of safety,” said Barry C. Finn, president and CEO of Rush Copley. “We are honored to continually receive the "A" grade recognition for this achievement and to provide our community with excellence in care."
Rush Oak Park Hospital received its seventh consecutive "A" grade and its ninth overall.
“It's an honor to receive this recognition, and it's a testament to our great staff who work to ensure patients are cared for in the safest environment," said Bruce Elegant, president and CEO of Rush Oak Park Hospital. “The safety of our patients is a reflection of the commitment and the dedication of the medical, nursing and professional staff at Rush Oak Park Hospital."
Rush University Medical Center received a "B" grade from Leapfrog. In September, the Medical Center was ranked first for quality of care among 93 major academic medical centers in a study conducted by Vizient, Inc., a health care performance improvement organization.
The "B" grade is due to errors in data reporting that “led to the Medical Center falling just shy of an 'A',” said Paul Casey, MD, acting chief medical officer for Rush University Medical Center. “The Vizient distinction, along with the Leapfrog 'A' grades at both Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Medical Center, are evidence of the culture of quality and continuous improvement throughout the Rush System for Health.”
Measure of hospital safety
Leapfrog used 28 measures of publicly available hospital data to assign scores of A, B, C, D or F. The score represents each hospital's overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections while they are in the hospital.
The Leapfrog Group compiles the Hospital Safety Score under the guidance of the nation's leading experts on patient safety in order to provide the public with information that people can use to protect themselves and their families. A full analysis of the data and methodology used is available on the Hospital Safety Score website.
“This outstanding achievement shows longstanding commitment to a culture of safety that puts patients first,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “For Rush, saving lives by preventing accidents, injuries, infections and errors is business as usual, and your communities should be proud. We commend the staff, faculty, volunteers, leadership and board of directors for their never-ending quest for the highest standards of patient safety.”