2 Local Tenet Hospitals Receive ‘A’ Safety Ratings in National Survey
By Jason Schwartz
West Boca Medical Center and Delray Medical Center were honored with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, hospital officials announced. The A score was awarded in the latest update to the Hospital Safety Score based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections. The two local hospitals were among eight Tenet Florida hospitals that earned an A. The others are Coral Gables Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, North Shore Medical Center, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center. “All of our hospitals are dedicated to delivering safe, quality care,” Marsha Powers, senior vice president of operations of the Tenet Florida Region, said in a release. “The hard work of all of the staff members, nurses and physicians is being exemplified through this distinguished award, which is grounded in evidence-based quality.” The Washington-based Leapfrog Group evaluates hospitals based on data the hospitals file with the federal government as part of its treatment of Medicare patients. Leapfrog also asks hospitals to complete a questionnaire focused on information technology and employee education. “Hospitals that earn an A have demonstrated their commitment to their patients and their community,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I congratulate these hospitals for their safety excellence, and look forward to the day when all hospitals will match this standard.” The Leapfrog Group was formed in the 1990s among employers such as General Motors, FedEx, UPS and Toyota that were concerned that many of their workers were getting hurt in hospitals that were supposed to restore them to health. About 180,000 Americans die each year from preventable hospital errors such as infections. The Hospital Safety Score was compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families. To see Tenet Florida’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.
