PRESS RELEASE — Lakeland Regional Health Earns “A” Rating On Leapfrog Hospital Safety Scorecard

Lakeland Regional Health earned an “A” rating on the Hospital Safety Scorecard from the Leapfrog Group today. The Leapfrog Group compares more than 2,500 hospitals using extensive reporting criteria for 28 process/structural and outcome measures.

“This ‘A’ rating demonstrates our team’s significant success implementing evidence-based industry best practices for the safety and wellbeing of our patients and families,” said Timothy J. Regan, MD, Lakeland Regional Health Chief Quality Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer.

“We are so proud of Lakeland Regional Health’s clinician-led Medical Center for making significant, measurable improvements in quality and safety of patient care,” said Elaine C. Thompson, PhD, FACHE, Lakeland Regional Health President and Chief Executive Officer. “This ‘A’ speaks to our strong commitment to deliver nationally recognized healthcare to our community.”

The Leapfrog “A” grade is one of the most meaningful honors a hospital can earn. The Hospital Safety Score is considered the gold standard rating for patient safety, and it is one of the most valuable indicators for patients looking for a safe place to receive care.

Over the last several years, Lakeland Regional Health has:

Reduced Ventilator Associated Pneumonia by 98%

  • Reduced Surgical Site Infections by 18%
  • Reduced Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections by 19%
  • Reduced risk adjusted Patient Safety Indicators occurrences by 6%
  • Reduced risk adjusted complications by 7%

The voluntary, free Leapfrog Group Survey is conducted twice a year by the national not-for-profit organization and is focused on promoting transparency and value-based hospital incentives. The organization is founded by work from the National Quality Forum (NQF). The rating tells how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Leapfrog not only uses data from its survey but also from other sources, such as the American Hospital Association and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Though the Leapfrog Group Survey provides a snapshot of care, it is by no means the only source of information available to healthcare consumers.

“Lakeland Regional Health’s ‘A’ grade validates its achievement in preventing harm within the hospital, and we are proud to recognize the efforts of the care providers and staff,” said Leah Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score. “Patient safety requires constant vigilance, and we encourage Lakeland Regional Health and all other ‘A’ hospitals to continue demonstrating unrelenting commitment to patients by consistently providing a safe environment for care.”

In addition to being rated highly for its patient care, Lakeland Regional Health has earned several international and national workplace honors in the last 12 months. Lakeland Regional Health recently was named number 28 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. Gallup has chosen us in both 2014 and 2015 as one of just 40 or less organizations worldwide to receive its Great Workplace Award. We also were featured on the 2015 Becker’s Hospital Review list of “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare.”

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national not-for-profit organization driving a movement for quality and safety in American healthcare. The Hospital Survey and the Hospital Safety Score are two of Leapfrog’s big initiatives, collecting and transparently reporting hospital performance and allowing consumers to find the highest-value care and make informed decisions.

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