Recently, a released list by Leapfrog Group graded over 3,000 hospitals spreading over the U.S., including 116 in Illinois. Based on the safety data revealed one northern medical center received an “F” grade and multiple other hospitals in Chicago listed as a “C.”
What Is Illinois’s Ranking?
Illinois ranked 27th in the country regarding the percentage of hospitals with high marks for safety. Specifically, a northern medical center in Waukegan, Vista Medical Center East, earned the “F” grade, while other Chicago hospitals, like Northwestern Memorial Hospital, scored a “C.”
Vista Medical Center East responds to their “F” grade by Leapfrog in disagreement by stating how the “hospital has not had any patients with hospital-acquired infections in nine months,” and how some of the collected data from what the grade is based on is over two years old. They added that the hospital does not participate in the Leapfrog survey.
Furthermore, they explain that the assessment of Leapfrog “‘does not reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff’ the statement said.” In addition, they stated they are continuing to focus on quality, safety, and their patients’ experience at the hospital as involved in their overall attempts to better clinical performance.
Around 29% of Illinois hospitals scored “A” grades, which is close to the same percentage as the grades released in the fall by the Leapfrog Group — a nonprofit that distributes grades twice a year. This percentage and ranking are actually lower than that from a year ago when Illinois was ranked “17th in the country for hospital safety, with 35% of Illinois hospitals achieving A grades.”
In these grades, they are based and scored on over 30 measures of patient safety. In addition, this grading would be based on “the federal government, a Leapfrog survey, and other sources”. In these measures, “falls and trauma, hand and hygiene and death rates among surgical patients with serious, treatable conditions” are included. When high grades are received by certain hospitals, they often laud those grades in hopes of more patients being attracted to their hospitals and them gaining a competitive advantage over others.
What Are Hospitals Doing To Enhance Grades?
Some hospitals like Mount Sinai Hospital received a “C” and commented on how in correlation with maintaining their current letter grades, they continued to create increased progress in the “overall quality, safety, and experience of care performance across the system.” Therefore, as a result, a big turnaround in their grades has been evident. They further elaborate on how their ultimate goal is “to achieve Level ‘A’ performance across the continuum of care as part of our vision to be the provider of choice for our communities.” They continue their statement by declaring they are proud of the caregivers’ efforts throughout the system in making a commitment, personally, to giving the best quality care to patients.
Written by Ke’Lena Thomas
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
NBC Chicago: Illinois Hospital Receives ‘F’ Grade While Northwestern, Other Chicago Hospitals Get ‘C,’ New Report Shows
Chicago Tribune: Hospital safety grades: One Illinois hospital earns an F, Northwestern earns a C; by Lisa Schencker
Good Word News: Illinois hospital gets ‘F’ grade while Northwestern and other Chicago hospitals get ‘C’ grade, new report says – NBC Chicago; Sara Adm
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