Three Consecutive “A” Grades for McDonough District Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following an announcement by the Leapfrog Group, McDonough District Hospital extended its standard for excellence in patient safety by receiving its third consecutive ‘A’ grade.

Thirty-two percent of hospitals nationwide (more than 2,600 hospitals evaluated) earned an ‘A’, and MDH was one of 43 across the state of Illinois with an ‘A’. In fact, MDH is just one of 17 Illinois hospitals to earn a repeat ‘A’ grade over the last three grading periods (Fall 2017/Spring 2018/Fall 2018).

“Since taking over this summer, I have been impressed with the dedication to a culture of caring our staff shows to our patients. Being able to provide a safe and caring environment is paramount for a positive patient experience,” said Interim President/CEO Brian E. Dietz, MHA, FACHE. “It’s impressive to earn a Leapfrog Group ‘A’ grade in patient safety. To earn the first ‘A’ last year in MDH’s history, then repeat it for a third straight grading period makes this honor even more prestigious. I congratulate every employee associated with MDH on achieving this unprecedented level of success.”

To further address patient safety concerns, The Leapfrog Group expanded its rating this year to include an assessment of hospital use of Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA), which helps reduce the risk of giving the wrong medication to a patient at the bedside. Measures like BCMA indicate whether hospitals are establishing systems known to help their staff avoid such problems.

Administered on behalf of employers and other purchasers, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the nation’s only rating system focused entirely on errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is reviewed by a National Expert Panel and receives guidance from the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. It is updated every six months, once in the fall and once in the spring.

“Health care was an important issue in the 2018 mid-term elections, yet both parties are still neglecting the third leading cause of death in America - errors and infections in hospitals,” said Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Every elected official, from city councilors, to senators, to the President, should hold hospitals accountable and support efforts to improve patient safety.”

For more information about McDonough District Hospital, please visit Facebook.com/McDonough.District.Hospital/ or online at MDH.org.

About The Leapfrog Group: The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade was created and is administered by The Leapfrog Group, a national leader and advocate in hospital transparency. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, national not-for-profit organization founded more than a decade ago by the nation’s leading employers and private health care experts. We strive to make giant “leaps” forward in the safety, quality and affordability of health care in the U.S. by promoting transparency through our data collection and public reporting initiatives. With our goal of saving lives by reducing errors, injuries, accidents, and infections, The Leapfrog Group focuses on measuring and publicly reporting hospital performance through the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. The survey is a trusted, transparent and evidence-based national tool in which nearly 2,000 hospitals voluntarily participate free of charge. The Leapfrog Group advocates for public access to quality and safety data from all U.S. hospitals, and we welcome you to contact your legislators to demand more information to keep your families safe.

Information from The Leapfrog Group press release used in the release (www.HospitalSafetyGrade.org)