Colquitt Regional recently received its 17th “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates Colquitt Regional’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“We are consistently evaluating our safety practices and implementing new technologies and systems to ensure that we are delivering the safest care possible to our patients,” said Colquitt Regional President and CEO Jim Matney. “Additions such as our new medical education building are proof that we prioritize keeping patient safety at the forefront of our thinking. This new building will house simulation rooms and skills labs where medical learners will receive training in a realistic environment. It will also provide opportunities for them to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and protocols in patient care.”
Among the 30 measures used to evaluate each hospital, Colquitt Regional earned a perfect score in the following categories: computerized physician order entry, bar code medication administration, ICU physician staffing, culture of leadership structures and systems, culture measurement, feedback and intervention, total nursing care hours per patient day, and hand hygiene.
“Earning an ‘A’ Grade means Colquitt Regional made a true commitment to put patients first,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers that all had a role to play in this achievement.”
Colquitt Regional also scored 91 percent or higher in the categories of nurse communication and doctor communication.
“Day after day, our dedicated employees carry out our mission of providing exceptional healthcare that exceeds expectations,” said Hospital Authority Chairman Richard E. Turner, Jr. “We have set the highest standards when it comes to patient safety and our team rises to the occasion every day.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
To see Colquitt Regional’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook and via its newsletter.
