DUBLIN, Ga. — Twice a year, the healthcare watchdog organization Leapfrog collects and analyzes data from nearly 3,000 hospitals. They measure structural, process, and outcomes.
The outcomes can range from surgery errors and handwashing to patient medication input systems.
According to Leapfrog, over 440,000 people die yearly from hospital safety problems. The National Institute of Health finds medical errors are the leading cause of death in the United States. 10 patient safety experts look at safety problems, hospital staff, and in-hospital infections. CEO of Fairview Park Hospital Don Avery says high quality in patient safety establishes good procedures.
"It's just very important that when people come here, they don't get a hospital-acquired infection, we don't cause any more injury to them, and our hope is they leave with good outcomes and also feeling like they've been well-cared for as a human being," Avery said.
The Dublin Hospital received an 'A' hospital safety grade versus Atrium Health Navicent, Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Milledgeville, and Houston Medical Center. They received a 'C' grade.
We reached out to Houston Medical Center and they have not responded. Atrium sent us a statement saying:
"For us, we believe the true test of quality is patient outcomes. Atrium Health is the undisputed leader in our region in clinical expertise, safety and innovation. Various organizations create their own, subjective set of criteria to make lists of which health systems are “best,” often selling the rights to hospitals to make such claims using that given judging organization’s logo.
Atrium Health focuses on continuous performance improvement always – using an integrated, evidence-based approach. We recognize the importance of transparency in sharing hospital safety and quality data and do so willingly. Although outside organizations use data that can be up to two years old, it’s important to note that we use near-immediate internal measures and tools to strive for operational improvements we can make in real-time. We also use direct feedback from our teammates and patients, including engagement and listening through our Patient and Family Advisory Councils, to improve on any patient safety and care in the moment, rather than waiting on yearly reports from outside agencies. While external rankings certainly have a place in the industry, we believe our immediate responses to continuous improvement are a much better indicator.
Atrium Health is continually recognized for its quality and safety by national organizations including the American Hospital Association, Planetree and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – and we have been awarded multiple contracts by CMS through its Partnership for Patients initiative. We’ve also been honored regularly by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and Forbes."
Leapfrog says Atrium rated poorly for preventing infections, falls and injuries, and communication with staff and doctors. Houston Medical Center was found to have surgical problems that caused preventable deaths from complications. Avery says providing staff with resources to give care is important.
"If the employees that work here feel like they're valued first as a person and as a worker, then the work they do is valuable," Avery said.
Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North Hospital both received an “A” hospital safety grade from the Leapfrog Group. CEO Stephen Daugherty says the grades are objective.
"They're pulling this data from already publicly-released information, whether from the center of Medicaid and Medicare or other public entities that record how we're performing," Daugherty said.
While Fairview is a rural hospital, Avery says they provide care to patients who live in surrounding counties. Being a part of the health organization HCA, their workforce is strong.
"But being a part of HCA has been a big part of helping us get to where we're being because you don't find many rural hospitals that look like this hospital and that are this size and have the resources and services we're able to provide," Avery said.