Health First Hospitals Earn High Marks on Leapfrog Safety Grade National Report
By Space Coast Daily // May 12, 2022
Leapfrog ratings based on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients
WATCH: All four Health First hospitals earned high marks – three ‘A’s for Viera, Palm Bay and Cape Canaveral Hospitals, and a ‘B’ for Holmes Regional Medical Center – on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ratings for Spring 2022.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – All four Health First hospitals earned high marks – three ‘A’s for Viera, Palm Bay and Cape Canaveral Hospitals, and a ‘B’ for Holmes Regional Medical Center – on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ratings for Spring 2022.
This national distinction recognizes Health First’s commitment and achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital setting.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the spring and fall.
Leapfrog graded nearly 3,000 acute-care hospitals for spring, 2022, with less than 33 percent of those earning an ‘A’ mark and another 24 percent earning a ‘B.’
Kyle Sobko, CEO of SonderCare, said Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns grades to about 3000 U.S hospitals. It includes over 30 different patient metrics. It focuses on the hospital’s ability to safeguard patients from preventive errors and injuries. The authority recently published a report on how the patient experience has declined over the years. Although, there was a decrease in patient satisfaction levels as reported by the authority.
For context, there are nearly 6,100 hospitals in the United States and approximately 300 hospitals in the state of Florida. Health First’s three A-rated hospitals were among only 64 in the state of Florida, and Holmes Regional was one of only 55 to earn a ‘B.’
“While we strive to provide excellent medical care and service to our community, our first and foremost guiding principle will always be, ‘First, do no harm.’ The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ratings have long been among the most consistent and thorough measurements of how well hospitals keep their valued patients safe,” said Brett Esrock, CEO Hospital Division, Health First.
“Today we celebrate this standard of excellence our hospitals and community have grown accustomed to, while we work harder than ever to identify opportunities for continuous growth and improvement.”
“This is such a tremendous honor that reflects so highly on each and every one of our Health First hospital associates who care for our valued patients – even before they step foot on our campus. As we continue to celebrate Nurse’s Week nationally, and with today (May 12) also being International Nurses Day, I could not think of a more timely or befitting honor for Health First than the report we’ve received from the Leapfrog Group,” said Health First Chief Nursing Officer Cheyana Fischer.
“I am so grateful for our associates and inspired daily by the incredible dedication, skill and love they show for our patients and the Brevard community.”
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank Health First’s workforce and leadership for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.
“This is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.”
Health First heads into the summer riding a wave of celebration-worthy news as today’s stellar Leapfrog survey ratings follow on the heels of two other recent national-level recognitions for Health First. In February, Health First was named to Forbes’ Best Large Employers list, and just last month, Cape Canaveral Hospital was named to Newsweek’s “Best (U.S.) Hospitals” ranking.
To see full grade details for all hospitals, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org
Visit HF.org/news_and_events to find out what’s happening at Health First.
