Straub, Pali Momi and Wilcox Medical Centers, members of the Hawaii Pacific Health system, each earned an “A” grade in the new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades announced recently. Straub has been awarded straight “A’s” since 2013 and is one of only 113 hospitals out of over 2,600 across the country to attain this honor.
The Hospital Safety Grades assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the United States. The grades were announced by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog.
“We are very proud that Straub and Pali Momi have achieved A grades for patients safety, and in particular that Straub has earned this achievement for three years in a row,” said Art Gladstone, CEO of Straub Medical Center and Pali Momi Medical Center. “Our teams at Straub and Pali Momi are regularly reviewing and evaluating our processes and procedures in order to ensure we are providing the highest quality and safest care possible. This recognition is a reflection of their commitment to this effort and to our patients.”
“Providing a safe environment is important to the overall health and well-being of our patients, and it’s important for Kauai residents to know they have access to nationally recognized, safe medical care right here at home” said Jen Chahanovich, President & CEO of Wilcox Medical Center. “This achievement is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff, who are constantly raising the bar in order to provide the best experience for our patients.”
“Earning Straight ‘As’ in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a remarkable achievement and testament to a hospital’s ongoing vigilance and commitment to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We thank Straub, Pali Momi and Wilcox for being an example of excellence in preventing harm to patients, and urge you to continue championing patient safety.”
Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
To see the full grades for Straub, Pali Momi and Wilcox, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org or follow The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter and Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
About Hawaii Pacific Health
Hawaii Pacific Health, a not-for-profit health care network with four medical centers – Kapiolani, Pali Momi, Straub and Wilcox – and more than 70 locations statewide, is one of the largest health care providers in Hawaii. It has innovative programs in women’s health, pediatric care, cardiovascular services, cancer care, bone and joint services and more. Hawaii Pacific Health is recognized nationally for its excellence in patient care and the use of electronic health records to improve quality and patient safety.
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 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, 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.