University of Chicago Medicine earns A grade in hospital safety

Score is the 6th consecutive top score, according to survey by The Leapfrog Group

October 31, 2014

University of Chicago Medicine received its sixth consecutive A grade in hospital safety, according to the latest Hospital Safety Score survey released by The Leapfrog Group.

The fall 2014 results, announced Wednesday, were culled from a review of 2,520 acute care hospitals across the country to assess how well facilities protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

UChicago Medicine has received a top rating on the safety survey since the health care quality organization began reporting the data in June 2012.

Leapfrog's scores are released each fall and spring and are based on 28 publicly reported metrics. Scores are compiled by tracking measures such as the number of patients who develop catheter-associated urinary tract infections and intensive care unit physician staffing levels. Facilities receive a single-letter grade -- A, B, C, D or F -- based on the data.

During the latest survey, 790 hospitals nationwide received an A grade, while 688 earned a B and 868 received a C. Only 174 hospitals, or about 6.6 percent of facilities surveyed, received a D or F.

"Patient safety needs to be a 24-7 priority for hospitals, as errors and infections are all too common and often deadly," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score. "We commend the A hospitals, including University of Chicago Medicine, for helping us to raise the standards of health care nationwide."

To review UChicago Medicine's data, please visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.