Baptist Health Hospitals Ranked Among Safest in the Nation

Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score recognizes dedication to patient safety

Four hospitals operated by Baptist Health South Florida have been recognized by a healthcare industry watchdog group for their dedication to patient safety. Baptist Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital each received an A grade in the Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2015 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital.

Baptist, Doctors and Homestead Hospitals also earned Leapfrog’s new “Straight A’s” gold badge for achieving a perfect score during every survey period since the Hospital Safety Score was launched in June 2012.

South Miami Hospital received a B score. As a critical-access hospital, Mariners Hospital is not eligible to participate in the survey.

The Hospital Safety Score assigns A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals, which are evaluated on 28 areas of patient safety including infection rates, surgical outcomes, physician staffing levels in the ICU and standard safety measures such as hand washing. Some 40 percent of hospitals receive a C, D or F grade.

“At a time when more than 1,000 people die every day from preventable accidents in hospitals, Leapfrog believes that patient safety should be Job #1 in every hospital, 24-7,” said Leah Binder, Leapfrog president and chief executive officer. “Baptist Health’s A grades validate its achievement in preventing harm within its hospitals, and we are proud to recognize the efforts of the care providers and staff.”

“These scores are a useful tool for patients to begin a conversation with their doctors when it comes to choosing a hospital for care,” said Brian E. Keeley, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health South Florida. “Our scores signify our commitment to patients and their safety. And when combined with our recent star rankings in patient satisfaction from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), patients can be confident they are making informed decisions about where to be treated.”

The Hospital Safety Score is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. A full description of the data and methodology used in determining grades is available online at HospitalSafetyScore.org. Visitors to the website can also find informative videos, tips for patients, and a downloadable Hospital Safety Score mobile app for IOS and Android devices.

About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and more than 30 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit, faith-based Baptist Health has more than 15,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fifth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute.

About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Hospital Safety Score, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

Contact: Dori Alvarez; 786-596-3050