Virginia’s hospital network is second in the nation for safety, according to Leapfrog’s Spring 2022 ranking — down one place since fall 2021. North Carolina moved up from second in the fall 2021 ranking.
The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association noted that Virginia is still improving, with 59.2 percent of the Commonwealth’s hospitals receiving an “A” grade in the latest ranking after 56.2 percent received the grade in the fall.
“Virginia hospitals are rooted in communities all across the Commonwealth from large cities and counties in our population centers to those that serve our rural and mountainous areas. While each hospital is unique, they all share a commitment to delivering high-quality care and protecting patient safety,” said Peter Mulkey, Clinch Valley Health chief executive officer and the chair of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) Board of Directors.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade analyzed nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals. Process and structure measures analyzed include intensive care unit physician staffing, the culture of leadership structures and systems, nursing workforce, and hand hygiene. Outcome measures analyzed include falls and trauma, MRSA, and death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable conditions.
The ranking is used in other metrics. One factor in a recent 2022 public health emergency report was the percentage of hospitals in a state that had an “A” score or better.
The individual hospital ratings are also available for potential patients to view at hospitalsafetygrade.org.
“As we recognize National Hospital Week, Virginia’s continued standing as a top state in the Leapfrog Group Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grades is something worth celebrating,” added VHHA President and CEO Sean Connaughton. “Virginia hospitals have consistently earned top marks in nationwide assessments that benchmark patient safety, clinical excellence, and emergency preparedness levels. By focusing on these core components of public health, Virginia hospitals are helping to lead the way on the work to make this the healthiest state in the nation.”
This article originally appeared in The Virginia Star. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of The Republican Standard. Republished with permission.