Two of Excela Health’s three hospitals have been recognized with a top score in patient care and safety.
Excela Westmoreland in Greensburg and Excela Frick in Mt. Pleasant each receiving an “A” in The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grades.
This was the third consecutive grading period Westmoreland has received an A rating. Frick was not previously rated. Excela Latrobe Hospital received another “B” this evaluation period.
Grades are updated each fall and spring.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, grades general hospitals nationwide from “A“ to “F” based on more than 30 performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as which protocols hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, which is peer reviewed, is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on preventing medical errors and patient harm.
The Leapfrog Group, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 2000. In addition to grading hospital patient safety, the national nonprofit also conducts the Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey.
“Patient safety and quality care go hand in hand and both require vigilance across multiple disciplines 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said John Sphon, Excela Health CEO. “To do so requires a strong healthcare team dedicated to infection reduction and preventable harm. This is an expectation of everyone in our organization and we continually focus on it for the greater good and well-being of our coworkers, our patients and their families.”
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, called an “A” grade “a tremendous achievement.”
“I thank the leadership and workforce of Excela Health for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times,” Binder said.
Details on Excela Health’s performance can be found at hospitalsafetygrade.org. The website also contains tips for patients to stay safe while in a hospital.