SMH Receives Straight A’s for Patient Safety

Hospital safety report cards were released and Sarasota Memorial Hospital continued its straight-A streak for keeping patients safe from medical errors, infections, accidents and other harm.

The Leapfrog Group assigns hospitals across the nation A, B, C, D or F safety grades in the spring and fall of each year based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harm to patients in their care.

Of the 2,600 hospitals ranked in the Fall 2019 safety report, SMH was one of 199 hospitals nationwide and just 15 in Florida to achieve straight A’s since Fall 2016. Researchers said more than 50,000 lives could be saved if all hospitals performed at the level of A-graded hospitals, noting in particular that patients had almost double a risk of dying at D and F hospitals than at an A-graded hospitals. 
  
“ ‘A’ hospitals show us their leadership is protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level – from clinicians to administrators to the board of directors – and we congratulate the teams who have worked so hard to earn this A.”

In the Fall 2019 report, 33% of hospitals in the nation earned an “A,” 25% earned a “B,” 34% earned a “C,” 8% a “D” and just under 1% an “F.” Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are calculated by top patient-safety experts twice each year to help patients assess and choose the safest local hospitals to seek care.  

In addition to the highest Leapfrog safety score, SMH has consistently earned the highest ratings from all of the major quality programs in the nation. In 2019, SMH was named one of the nation’s “100 Top Hospitals” by Truven Health Analytics and one of the world’s best hospitals in the first global ranking by Newsweek magazine this year. SMH also was among 57 “standout” hospitals recognized in the 2019-2020 U.S. News & World Report magazine’s Best Hospitals list, and the only hospital in Florida to have consistently earned the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ highest five-star quality award since that rating system launched in 2016.
 
SMH Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD, said the superior performance reflects the dedication and diligence of the health system’s entire team to put quality and safety first.

“The rankings and ratings are very validating, but what matters most to us is how our patients feel and making sure they receive the best possible care,” Dr. Fiorica said.

To access Leapfrog’s full results, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.