SMH Continues Straight A Streak in Fall 2020 Hospital Safety Report Card

December 14, 2020 – Sarasota

The Leapfrog Group released its Fall 2020 hospital report cards today, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital again earned an A for patient safety.

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 hospital performance on up to 27 publicly reported quality and safety indicators. 

In this grading period, more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals across all states were evaluated, with 34% of hospitals receiving A’s, 24% receiving B’s, 35% receiving C’s, 7% receiving D’s, and less than 1% receiving F’s. 

Sarasota Memorial has earned straight A’s since it began participating in Leapfrog’s hospital safety survey in 2016. The hospital report cards, updated every six months, are designed to help patients quickly assess and choose the safest hospitals to seek care. While the data does not yet include findings collected during the height of COVID-19, the report offers an indication of how well hospitals implemented fundamental safety precautions prior to the pandemic, an important factor in preparedness, said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

“As the nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and healthcare workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” Binder said. “We hope this ‘A’ helps to thank the people who work and volunteer for Sarasota Memorial Hospital. They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.”

Sarasota Memorial President and CEO David Verinder attributes the SMH’s continued success to the entire hospital team, the health system’s governing board and ongoing community support.

“We have always placed the utmost importance on the safety of our patients and staff,” he said. “No matter the challenge, our team always comes together to put the community first and ensure we are providing the best care to people living on the Suncoast.”

According to Leapfrog’s Fall 2020 study, more than 50,000 lives would have been saved if all hospitals had an avoidable death rate equivalent to A-graded hospitals. They noted that when compared to A hospitals:

• Patients at D and F hospitals face a 92% greater risk of avoidable death.

• Patients at C hospitals on average face an 88% greater risk of avoidable death.

• Patients at B hospitals on average face a 35% greater risk of avoidable death.

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