Latest news with #Leapfrog
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Huntsville Hospital releases statement following ‘F' grade on Leapfrog Hospital Safety report
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Huntsville Hospital released a statement following a Leapfrog Hospital Safety report grade that said the hospital received an 'F.' You can read the full statement from Huntsville Hospital below. The Leapfrog survey is not an accurate measure of patient safety at HuntsvilleHospital. The hospital did not complete this voluntary 353-page survey, yet Leapfrogchose to publish a rating with incomplete information. This process is unfair to thethousands of dedicated clinicians working around the clock to care for the community andrespond to emergencies anytime they are called. Huntsville Hospital is consistently ranked by US News as the second-best hospital inAlabama ( The hospital is fullyaccredited by the Joint Commission, the gold standard for hospital quality and safety,holding hospitals accountable for over 250 standards measured in person by a sevenperson survey team. Forbes considers HH one of the best employers in Alabamaand Newsweek named HH one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. HH'scardiac surgery programs was recognized by Healthgrades as one of America's 50 bestprograms seven years in a row. HH is a certified stroke center and accredited by theAmerican College of Surgeon's Commission on Cancer. Blue Cross and Blue Shieldrecognizes HH for distinction in cardiac care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, andmaternity care. Every employee and physician in the HH Health System completesmandatory training in patient safety and high reliability. HH excels in most quality ratingsand scores poorly in a Leapfrog survey that it does not complete. Huntsville Hospital takes care of the sickest patients in north Alabama and southernTennessee. Mortality ratings referenced in the Leapfrog survey fail to account for theseverity of illness managed by hospitals that accept transfers of patients needing thehighest level of care. To ensure we are providing these patients the best possible care,Huntsville Hospital dedicates significant resources to specialty specific clinical databasesincluding the Society of Thoracic Surgery, American College of Cardiology NCDR Registry,Vermont Oxford neonatology database, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program,National Trauma database, and Cancer Registry. The perception of this matter is not lost on us. Going forward, Huntsville Hospital andMadison Hospital will add the significant resources that are required to complete a surveyof Leapfrog's scope. While we would rather have these staff members taking care ofpatients, and we recognize that Leapfrog may not be the best indicator of hospital quality,allowing an organization to suggest we do not prioritize patient safety is an afront todedicated care givers and first responders working around the clock to make Huntsville abetter place to live. Huntsville Hospital This statement comes after an independent, nonprofit organization, The Leapfrog Group, released its first of two yearly grade reports and both Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital received an F. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Community news: Hospitals in Hinsdale, La Grange lauded for patient care
For the 24th consecutive grading period, the UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals in La Grange and Hinsdale have received an A safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, which ranks hospitals in the nation based on preventing things that harm patients. The national nonprofit watchdog Leapfrog assigns grades from A to F to general hospitals 'based on more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems that hospitals have implemented to prevent patient harm,' a news release notes. The latest grades came out in the spring 2025 edition of Leapfrog's semiannual Hospital Safety Grade report. Dr. Monica Reed, president and chief executive officer of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, praised the medical teams at the hospitals. 'With their expertise, dedication and compassion, they drive our efforts to provide the highest-quality whole-person care, focusing not only on patients' physical health, but also on their mental and spiritual well-being,' she shared in the release. The 79th annual La Grange Pet Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. and continues until 11:30 a.m. May 31 at Cossitt Avenue and La Grand Road. This year's theme is 'One Sweet Day.' Fiona K will be the junior grand marshall, chosen from her entry in the coloring contest judged by the La Grange Art League, which will honor her with an art show. Six floats will be chosen to receive trophies; judging is at 9 a.m. in the line-up area. Points are given for theme, effort and homemade elements. Registration still is available for individuals, small groups and families until noon May 30. The pet and owner costume contests include prizes. Youths compete for an Apple iPad and $200 and $100 Amazon gift cards. Adults can win a pet parade swag bag, T-shirt and hate or T-shirt. Groups/families will vie for an Apple iPad and $200and $100 in Aurelio's Pizza gift certificates. Register online at The parade attracts thousands of spectators and participants every year and costs up to $100,000 to present, which includes payment for some of the acts that perform. The Darien Garden Club's National Garden Week Program features Leslie Goddard portraying Lady Bird Johnson at 6:30 p.m. June 2 at Indian Prairie Public library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien. Attendees can learn more about the late first lady's passion work as an advocate for the environment and her passion for wildflowers during this poignant, humorous portrayal by Goddard, an actress and historian. Socializing starts at 6:30 with the presentation from 7 to 8 p.m. This program is available in person or online; registration is required in person at the library or online at A man is calling himself 'Fateful 56' after winning $1 million on a $10 Jumbo Bucks scratch-off Illinois Lottery Ticket he bought at a Shell gas station in River Grove earlier this month, giving himself the nickname because the winning number on the ticket was 56 and his wife is 56 years old. 'I actually picked the ticket because I saw the name 'Bucks' on it. I'm a hunter, and I thought it was a hunting-themed ticket – turns out I was wrong,' the winner shared, via a news release. He was at the gas station to buy his wife a soda and impulsively decided to buy a few scratch-off tickets. 'When I scratched the ticket at home and realized I won a million dollars, I was in total shock – but my wife was even more stunned,' he noted in the release. 'I had to scan the ticket on my app to prove it, and even then, she still thought I was playing a prank on her.' The gas station earns $10,000 for selling the ticket. So far this year, 25 scratch-off tickets worth $1 million or more have been won by Illinois Lottery players Menagerie and Tabulae students at Lyons Township High School in La Grange won awards earlier this month at the Journalism Education Association's convention in Seattle. Earning four superior awards for Meagerie, the literary magazine, and Tabulae, the yearbook, ties the most in a single convention in program history. The 2024 Menagerie also earned a fourth place Best in Show trophy. Superior marks went to yearbook editor-in-chief Erin Higney for yearbook copy/caption: academics; literary magazine editor-in-chief Will Madigan for literary magazine: layout; Patrick Smith, yearbook copy/caption: sports; and Keira Geraghty for yearbook layout: theme. Awards for excellent and honorable mention also went to both publications. In celebration of the acquisition of its first permanent home, Bam Theatre hosts a ribbon-cutting block party from 4 to 7 p.m. May 30 at 520 N. Cass Ave., Westmont. Bam Theatre, founded in 2001 by Artistic Director Melanie Lamoureaux, is an educational theater organization based in the western suburbs of Chicago. It engages nearly 3,000 students every year. The new 15,000-square-foot building will host productions, private instruction and group classes as well as being a gathering place for students, families and artists. The community celebration is free and open to all ages. Food and a cash bar will be available, as well as outdoor activities and games. Guided tours will be offered. Information is at
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center's safety grade dropped from an ‘A' to a ‘C,' per new report
The spring 2024 Center in Lebanon, dropped from an 'A' to a 'C.' Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up On infections, it found DHMC performed worse than average when it came to rates of sepsis infection after surgery and C. difficile infection. The hospital also lost points on issues related to surgery, such as surgical wounds splitting open, blood leakage, kidney injury after surgery, and accidental cuts and tears. Advertisement Michael S. Calderwood, the chief quality officer at DHMC, said Dartmouth Health has robust quality and safety standards to ensure that patients experience the highest-quality care. 'Voluntary data submissions to groups like Leapfrog are nuanced and don't always capture the full picture of safety ratings,' he said in an email. He added that in the latest Leapfrog report DHMC maintained or improved performance in all areas except four. Advertisement Calderwood said the hospital has made improvements on managing infections since the 2023-2024 data reflected in the latest Leapfrog report. He said a hospital task force has worked on infections caused by catheters, " The Leapfrog safety report found DHMC was also below average on handwashing. But Calderwood said the report's methodology relies heavily on automated hand hygiene data, which he said is unreliable and lacks the opportunity for 'in-the-moment' education. These automated systems include technology like Calderwood said DHMC is using direct observation instead of the automated system, but that has impacted the Leapfrog methodology for data collection. 'Recognizing that we have already driven significant improvement in a number of the key areas identified in the Leapfrog survey and beyond, we see our Spring 2025 score as an opportunity to focus on areas for improvement,' he said. The New Hampshire hospitals that received the highest safety grade include Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, Exeter Hospital, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, and St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. Both Catholic Medical Center and Cheshire Medical Center received a 'D' grade, the lowest safety grade assigned to any hospital in the state. A spokesperson for Cheshire Medical Center said the hospital has chosen not to participate in the Leapfrog survey and that the grade does not accurately reflect the safety and quality of care provided to patients. Advertisement 'Cheshire has been notified from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' annual Preview Report that it will be awarded four stars, up from three stars last year,' the spokesperson said. Facing serious financial problems, Catholic Medical Center was CMC was the subject of a 'CMC did not participate in the Leapfrog survey prior to joining HCA Healthcare earlier this year, which means the current grade is based on limited historical information,' a spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement. 'HCA Healthcare has a strong and continuous commitment to measuring quality and safety in patient care,' the statement said. 'We are actively integrating our comprehensive quality and safety programs at CMC.' On the latest safety report for other HCA-owned hospitals, Parkland Medical Center received a 'B,' while Frisbie Memorial Hospital received a 'C.' Compared to the other New England states, New Hampshire was in the middle of the pack in terms of Advertisement Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
5 Palm Beach County hospitals sue Leapfrog Group that failed them: What the surveys found
WEST PALM BEACH — Five hospitals in Palm Beach County have accused a national hospital watchdog group of publishing deceptive safety grades and steering patients toward riskier facilities. Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary's Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center — all owned by the health care company Tenet — sued the nonprofit Leapfrog Group in April. Tenet's attorneys say Leapfrog gave failing marks for critical safety measures without supporting data, relying instead on assumed worst-case scenarios when public information was unavailable. They argue that the misleading grades harmed their reputations, diverted patients to other facilities and potentially put lives at risk. Go deeper: A national hospital-rating org failed five Palm Beach County hospitals. Now they're suing. Leapfrog, cited by patients and insurers alike, said its ratings are based on data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Its attorneys say the grades reflect real, documented problems at the hospitals, including high rates of infection, patient injuries and poor communication. Here's a closer look at each Palm Beach County hospital and the allegations against them by the Leapfrog Group Delray Medical Center Tenet's attorneys say Delray Medical Center, a 536-bed hospital and Level I Trauma Center for adults and children, has long been recognized for its cardiac and stroke care. It was named a Florida Resuscitation Center of Excellence in 2025, meeting about 15 state criteria for emergency and cardiac care, including intensive neurological monitoring and strong partnerships with EMS services. Leapfrog gave Delray Medical Center an "F" grade for the fall of 2024. The nonprofit said Delray performed significantly worse than the national average in critical safety measures, including bloodstream infections, surgical-site infections after colon surgery, and sepsis after surgery. Leapfrog said patient surveys also show that Delray Medical falls well below average in communication with doctors, nurses and staff. Good Samaritan Medical Center Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach County's oldest hospital, specializes in oncology services and complex surgical care. Equipped with 333 beds, the West Palm Beach institution has served the community for more than a century and, according to its attorneys, is recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. Leapfrog gave Good Samaritan a "D" grade for the fall of 2024. According to Leapfrog, Good Samaritan has a higher-than-average rate of urinary tract infections, surgical-site infections after colon surgery and incidents involving patient falls and injuries. Patient communication scores at the hospital are also significantly lower than the national average. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, a 199-bed facility known for cardiovascular and pulmonary care, has received multiple national awards for clinical excellence. But Leapfrog maintains that Palm Beach Gardens had the worst performance of the five hospitals when it comes to harmful events. It gave Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center an "F" grade for the fall of 2024. The group points to high rates of sepsis after surgery, surgical wounds reopening and serious bed sores. Like the others, Palm Beach Gardens also scored poorly in patient communication metrics. St. Mary's Medical Center St. Mary's Medical Center, a 413-bed hospital in West Palm Beach that operates the region's only children's hospital and Level I pediatric trauma center, is nationally accredited for its trauma, brain-injury and maternity-care programs. Leapfrog gave St. Mary's a "D" grade for the fall of 2024. The nonprofit said St. Mary's performed worse than the national average in rates of urinary tract infections and patient falls and injuries. The hospital also fell below national benchmarks in how well staff communicated with patients about their care and medications. West Boca Medical Center West Boca Medical Center, a 195-bed hospital focusing on women's and children's health and outfitted with a neonatal intensive care unit, has been recognized for its maternity and gastrointestinal services. Leapfrog gave West Boca an "F" grade for the fall of 2024. Leapfrog said West Boca has higher rates of MRSA infections, bloodstream infections and surgical-site infections following colon surgery compared to national averages. Patients also reported lower satisfaction with communication from the hospital staff. Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County hospitals sue Leapfrog Group after failed ratings
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mon Medical Center earns A in Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
May 2—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center earned an A in Leapfrog's Hospital Safety Grade spring 2025 report. This is Mon Health's first A since 2019 — improving from a B in fall 2024 and a C in spring 2024. The Leapfrog Group is a safety-based nonprofit formed by major employers and health care groups and issues its safety grades twice a year, in spring and fall. Mon Medical Center was the only West Virginia hospital to receive an A in the spring grading. The Leapfrog Group assigns a letter grade to nearly 3, 000 general hospitals on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections. David Goldberg, president and CEO of Mon Health System and Davis Health System — Vandalia Health Northern Region, and executive vice president of Vandalia Health, said, "Our mission every day is personalized care. It's every patient, every time, one patient at a time. And that's what this is about. While it ebbs and flows — the letter score — what doesn't ebb and flow is our dedication to being 100 % focused on the need of a patient each and every time." Mon Medical Center scored an A grade in fall 2019, B in spring 2020, C in fall 2020, A in spring 2021, Bs in fall 2021 and both times in 2022, fell to a C in spring 2023, and B in fall 2023. This spring, the hospital scored above average for infections, problems with surgery, error prevention and staff training and practices. It achieved the best overall score for infections and staffing. For safety problems, it scored a hair below the national average score of 1.00, with a 1.07. The best score was 0.53 and the worst was 3.10. It scored above average in three of seven categories in this area. Goldberg said Leapfrog data runs 12-18 months behind. "We've been on a journey to improve, and we've seen significant reductions in infection rates, falls, hospital-acquired conditions. We've also bolstered so much in our intensive care unit, with dedicated intensivists." Patient experience scores continue to be in the top 10 % to 25 %, he said, and patient safety scores continue to rank high. "We're thrilled to be an A, " he said. "But what that really goes to show and what it continues to show is that Mon Health Medical Center continues to lead with quality, safety and service."
