HPCI News: Understanding Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Hospital Safety Grade
To: Members and Selected Others
Last year a record number of U.S. hospitals patriated in the
annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey with over 1,850 taking part. This
represents nearly 40% of all U.S. community hospitals which total
4,862 according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). Seven
(7) Iowa hospitals participated.
Also, Hospital Safety Grades
were released for over 2,600 U.S. hospitals this spring. This
represents nearly 54% of the U.S. community hospitals. Sixty (60)
plus are greater Iowa hospitals and 31 within Iowa. These 60
hospitals account for more than 85% of Iowa residents hospital
expenses.
Hospital Safety Grades focus on errors, accidents
and infections. A patient safety expert panel selects and oversees
calculation of these grades. They are peer reviewed, fully
transparent and free to the public. Preventable errors are the 3rd
leading cause of death in the U.S. Given this and the fact that
these grades are publically available regardless of whether or not a
hospital completes the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, HPCI and many Iowa
employers have chosen to promote and use them widely.
The
only other meaningful public available source of quality data is
from Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare. Thus,
Iowa consumers and patients have limited quality and patient safety
information available to them.
A guide to understanding The
Leapfrog Group’s two flagship initiatives noted above is now
available.
Click here for the new infographic.
Paul M. Pietzsch, MPH
HPCI - IHBA Office
4430 Ashley Park Drive
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
(515) 778-6300