Aurora hospitals among the best in the U.S. for patient safety
Leapfrog analysts use publicly available data to look at 22 different safety measures and assign grades based on how well hospitals are doing to protect patients from harm. Measurements include the hospital's ability to prevent errors, accidents, injuries and infections. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are assigned to nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals across the nation twice a year.
Aurora Health Care hospitals that received 'A' ratings include:
Aurora BayCare Medical Center
Aurora Medical Center — Burlington
Aurora Medical Center — Grafton
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center
Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc County
Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County
Aurora Medical Center — Summit
Aurora Medical Center Washington County
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
'We are truly honored to receive more 'A' ratings from The Leapfrog Group than any other health system in Wisconsin, as this recognition reflects our team's dedication to serving our community with compassionate, innovative and high-quality clinical care,' said Gabrielle Finley-Hazle, president, Aurora Health Care. 'Our dedicated teammates across the state work hard to provide the best care for our patients every day, and this achievement demonstrates our commitment to delivering safe, effective care and enhancing patient outcomes for everyone in the communities we have the privilege to serve.'
Aurora's commitment to patient safety
Aurora Health Care takes a multidisciplinary approach to standardizing care and the key quality reporting metrics that drive patient safety and better patient outcomes. Quality reporting metrics are standardized measures that track various aspects of patient care, such as treatment outcomes, infection rates and patient satisfaction. These are among the 22 safety measures graded by Leapfrog, along with hand hygiene, nurse and doctor communications and hospital-acquired conditions.
As a health system, Aurora sets top priorities on patient experience, infection prevention and patient safety indicators like bed sores, fall prevention and complications from surgery. By aligning and gathering data along these key indicators, Aurora is able to get real-time performance feedback and respond quickly to address potential risks and areas of improvement.
This process also helps foster a culture of continuous improvement. By regularly monitoring performance, Aurora is able to set statewide benchmarks and goals, identify and share best practices across its sites in Wisconsin, and drive improvements in patient safety.
'We recognize that patients have many choices on where to receive care, and they rely on awards, recognitions and public data to make these important decisions,' said Melissa Spiering, vice president of quality and regulatory for Aurora Health Care. 'These designations from Leapfrog further uphold our longstanding commitment to quality and safety and help ensure our communities know we are focused on improving patient outcomes and achieving clinical preeminence.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
14-08-2025
- CBS News
Children's Hospital Colorado launches first-of-its-kind program for female athletes
A new program in Colorado is helping young female athletes stay at the top of their game. Athletes are known for pushing themselves to perform at their best. But for young girls, the physical demands of competition can take a toll, especially during critical years of growth and development. Recognizing the need for specialized care, doctors at Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora have launched the Female Athlete Program. It is a first-of-its-kind clinic in the state designed specifically for adolescent and young adult female athletes. Neveah Zamora, a distance runner, was among the program's first patients. She competed in cross country at Thornton's Pinnacle Charter School. "Cross country kind of gave me that meaning outside of academics, outside of good grades," Zamora said. "It gave me something that was mine." But her passion for running came to a halt when she tore her hip flexor during her freshman year. "I ran myself into injury," she said. That injury led to a deeper conversation with her doctor at Children's Hospital, where Zamora revealed she was struggling with her eating habits. "I'm not eating, I throw up my breakfast in the morning, I skip lunch at school. I eat half of my dinner when I get home," she said. Dr. Aubrey Armento, a sports medicine physician, explained Zamora's experience is not uncommon. "I would see a lot of athletes coming in, primarily for injuries and often referring them to see the sports dietician," Armento said. The pattern of under-fueling and overtraining prompted Armento to help launch the Female Athlete Program at Children's Hospital, which takes a collaborative and comprehensive approach to care. The clinic addresses not only physical injuries but also underlying issues such as nutrition, hormonal imbalances, and mental health. "It's a very collaborative approach," Armento said. "If an athlete is not adequately fueling and is not having a regular period, that puts their bone health at risk." That holistic model caught the attention of Dr. Lauryn Roth, an adolescent gynecologist. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I want to be part of that.' I, too, am a prior female athlete," Roth said. Roth joined the program to provide gynecological care, a component often missing in sports medicine. She educates young athletes on how menstrual health impacts performance and long-term well-being. "These periods are actually an indicator of how the body is doing and whether things are in balance or not," Roth said. "Estrogen is really important for a variety of functions in our body, including neuro-cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and also bone strength." Without proper hormonal balance, Roth said, athletes may struggle to perform, miss out on playing time, and become more susceptible to injuries. "I really look at this as a chance to make some positive changes, both for now, their current athletic performance, but also that future self that wants to live a long and healthy life," she said. For Zamora, the program made all the difference. "I was able to see PR after PR, and I was like the best running, and I think that's when it finally clicked for me," she said. "I think she's a good example of not just treating the injury but treating the whole athlete and making sure we're investigating other things outside of just the orthopedic injury itself," Armento said of Zamora. Now entering college, Zamora is no longer running competitively, but she hopes her story encourages other female athletes to prioritize their health. "There is no amount of suffering that is ever not justified," she said. "You deserve the freedom from your thoughts, and you deserve to let somebody listen to you." Since launching about eight months ago, the Female Athlete Program has supported hundreds of young athletes. It is available not only at the hospital's Aurora location but also at other Children's Hospital facilities along the Front Range.
CBS News
03-08-2025
- CBS News
Aurora Fire Rescue fights back against cancer risks with new screenings, turnout gear
Firefighters in Colorado face a lot of dangers that put them at risk of injury or illness, but one of the more prevalent problems can come from their own gear. Now, Aurora Fire Rescue is taking steps to make sure its crews stay safe while saving others. Firefighters have some of the highest risks for job-related cancer. According to the CDC, they are 9% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the average American because of the chemicals that can be released in fires and the chemicals used to protect them from those fires. "The problem with this inner shell is it contains PFAS, and PFAS contributes to firefighter cancer," said Aurora Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Hunter Hackbarth. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, but they're also known as "forever chemicals." They don't break down into the environment readily and include dozens of substances known to cause a variety of health problems. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, 72% of their members' line-of-duty deaths in 2023 were due to occupational cancer. "We have had two retirees that have passed from cancer. We have other retirees that are managing some cancer issues right now," said Hackbarth. That's why Aurora Fire Rescue is investing in programs to keep its men and women safe. First, they are starting lifespan cancer screenings for their firefighters through a federal government grant, and they are getting new gear free from cancer-causing PFAS. "Which is a single-layer gear, protective outer shell that we wear for medical calls, car accidents, auto extrication, wildland fire and general use compared to our structure, firefighting gear," said Hackbarth. The idea is that since the majority of calls they respond to are not structure fires, they can wear the light gear that doesn't expose them to PFAS like their bunker gear does. They will still have to use and carry their bunker gear, but will use it less often. It's an idea that is a big hit around the firehouse. "They're a lot lighter. They're a lot easier to walk around and breathe," said firefighter Patrick Slama. "In the summer, it will be nice," said firefighter Seidel.
CBS News
19-07-2025
- CBS News
Colorado health campuses in Aurora convert portion of hotel into alternative care facility
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation saw just how quickly our medical infrastructure can become overrun. Hospitals had to create treatment centers in tents and convention centers. So, now, federal money is helping two major health campuses in Colorado provide additional care in their own backyard. Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, CU Anschutz Medical Campus and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital campuses in Aurora now have figured out a way to convert existing infrastructure into additional hospital beds. In a matter of weeks, the health leaders converted part of the Hyatt hotel across the street from them into an alternative care facility. The area has two fully-functional intensive care units, a nursing station, imaging and laboratory services. "We're treating this like tower four as an extension to the hospital itself," said Dr. Jason Persoff, UCHealth Physician and associate professor at the CU School of Medicine. "Here, we can do any form of basic radiographs." This is the second phase of a three-year project that is attempting to figure out how communities can quickly set up advanced medical facilities in existing infrastructure during a medical disaster. Traditionally, hospitals had to create treatment centers in tents or other temporary structures like during the pandemic "But they have several disadvantages, which include thermal regulation so they can get too hot or too cold," Persoff said. "They're also patient comfort issues. There's privacy issues. There's the inability to turn off the lights completely. There's issues with infection prevention." The hotel will be restored to normal in a couple of weeks. There is a plan to test this in other cities across the country. Persoff told CBS Colorado the hotel model offers several advantages, including improved infection control, private bathrooms and the ability to isolate patients. Presoff also says this was a tremendous feat involving hundreds of people, but they now have a guidebook on how hospitals can do this same thing quickly during a medical disaster, which has people across the nation excited. "One of the coolest things we've been able to produce so far is an actual playbook on this is how you do this in your city," Persoff said.
