HPCI News: Hospital Safety Scores released by The Leapfrog Group...
a game changer
To: Members and selected others
From: Paul
On June 6th The Leapfrog Group released Hospital Safety Scores for over 2600 hospitals across the nation including 39 in the greater Iowa market area (27 in Iowa). The Hospital Safety Score grades hospitals on how safe they are for patients. Each A, B, C, D, or F score assigned to a hospital comes from an expert analysis of infections, injuries, and medical errors that frequently cause harm or death during a hospital stay.
Attached is a listing of the Hospital Safety Scores for each of the 39 Greater Iowa Hospitals. See below for more information. HPCI and IHBA are the Leapfrog Group Regional Rollout Leaders for the greater Iowa market area.
Monthly Newsletter June 2012
HPCI and IHBA Members
This week, The Leapfrog Group took a bold step forward in fighting for improved safety in hospitals. With the release of the Hospital Safety Score, we are empowering patients across the country to be more informed about the hospitals they are relying on for care. We hope patients will use this information to talk to their doctors and encourage their hospitals to make improvements. We want to see all hospitals across the country receive an A in safety, because all Americans deserve to receive safe care when they visit their local hospital.
Thank you for joining us in improving hospital safety,
Leah Binder, President & CEO
How Safe Is Your Local Hospital?
Leapfrog launches its Hospital Safety Score website
The Hospital Safety Score is an A, B, C, D or F letter grade, reflecting how safe hospitals are for patients. For the first time ever, it is possible to easily and quickly determine the safety of over 2,600 general hospitals across the country.
Every day, over 400 people die from preventable medical errors. That's equivalent to a major jetliner crashing daily.
Some people do more research on what car to buy than what hospital to go to. The Hospital Safety Score provides data and research to help you make an informed decision about the most critical aspect of a hospital stay: safety. The best surgeons in the world and the greatest technology available do not necessarily represent the basics of preventing infections and ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones after an operation. The goal of the Hospital Safety Score is to reduce the 180,000 yearly deaths from hospital errors and injuries through publicly recognizing safety and exposing harm. "Harm" ranges from infections and acquired injuries (such as bedsores) to medication mix-ups and other errors. See your local hospital's data page for information on the 26 items that were considered in the score.
Click here to visit the Hospital Safety Score website.
Using the Hospital Safety Score
Key talking points for employers
The Hospital Safety Score is possible only because of the effort made by employers and purchasers of healthcare benefits in advocating for patient safety through The Leapfrog Group. In order for this initiative to reach its goals of saving lives and reducing costs, it is important for employers to convey the following points:
- Use the Hospital Safety Score as a tool to research and compare the safety of local hospitals.
- Never refuse care in an emergency because of a Hospital Safety Score, but research ahead of time to be prepared for an emergency.
- Talk with your doctor about what hospital is best for you and your family, especially for a high-risk surgery.
- Even at an A hospital, stay vigilant and take action to protect yourself by following checklists of steps to take in order to stay safe.
- Give your doctors all of your medical records and a list of medications.
- Don't be afraid to speak up, ask questions, or ask for assistance during a hospital stay.
Click here for more talking points.
Hospital Safety Score in the News
News relevant to Leapfrog and the Hospital Safety Score
The Boston Globe: Mass. Hospitals Receive Top Marks
Crain's Chicago Business: Some Illinois Teach Hospitals Fail to Make the Grade
Digital Journal: Hospitals Receive A, B, C, D or F Scores for Patient Safety
Fierce Healthcare: Reputable Hospitals Score Poorly on Patient Safety
Fox 5 News DC: Interview with Leapfrog's CEO Leah Binder
Government Health IT: Report Gives Many Hospitals a C in Patient Safety
HealthLeaders Media: Leapfrog Issues Hospital Safety Report Cards
Health News Florida: On Hospital Report Cards, FL Does Well
Kaiser Health News: Hospitals Get Graded for Patient Safety
Kaiser Health News "Capsules": Lots of 'C's as Hospitals Get Graded for Patient Safety
Los Angeles Times: 41% of California Hospitals Graded C or Lower on Patient Safety
Market Watch: Hospitals Receive A, B, C, D, or F Scores for Patient Safety
MedPage Today: Leapfrog Group Grades Hospitals on Patient Safety
NPR Health Blog "Shots": Independent Grades for Hospitals Show Quality Could be Better
Orlando Business Journal: Slideshow: Hospital Safety Scores From Leapfrog
Sun-Sentinel: 25 South Florida Hospitals Get 'A' in Safety
2012 Leapfrog Hospital Survey
Key information for hospitals
The 2012 Leapfrog Hospital Survey launched on April 2, 2012. Hospitals must submit a 2012 survey by June 30 to be included in Leapfrog's first release of 2012 survey results. Those results will be released in late July and will fully replace all 2011 survey results.
Last month, three Town Hall calls were held to familiarize hospitals with the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Please visit the News & Events page of our website for call recordings and copies of presentation slides.
To obtain a security code or to ask questions about the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, please contact the Help Desk.
Upcoming Events
Important dates for Leapfrog members, partners, hospitals, and affiliates
- June 13th, 8am-1pm ET: Leapfrog Partners Meeting in Washington, D.C.
- June 30th: Deadline to complete 2012 Leapfrog Hospital Survey in order to be listed in first round of results
- August 31st: Deadline for Survey for Top Hospitals Award, and to have 2012 Leapfrog Hospital Survey results included in the second release of the Hospital Safety Score
- December 4th, 1-8pm: Leapfrog Annual Meeting
The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health benefits founded a decade ago to work for improvements in healthcare safety, quality, and affordability. Leapfrog purchaser members use hospital survey results in contracting, open enrollment with their employees and other public reporting, benefits design, and value-based purchasing programs. The Leapfrog Hospital Survey focuses on three critical areas of patient safety and quality: how patients fare, which includes issues like mortality for common high-risk surgeries and procedures; resources used to care for patients measured by length of stay and readmission rates; and management practices that promote safety and quality, such as adopting computerized physician order entry to reduce medication errors.
View the 2011 Leapfrog Hospital Ratings and Hospital Safety Scores now.
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HPCI - IHBA Office
4430 Ashley Park Drive
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
(515) 778-6300