New WA Hospital Safety Ratings: 16 Get 'A' Grade, 1 Gets 'D'

Seattle WA

10 November, 2021

1:41 PM

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WASHINGTON — How safe are hospitals in Washington? The answer varies from hospital to hospital, but you more than likely can find at least one nearby facility where you're in good hands, according to new safety grades released by a national watchdog organization focused on improving health care in the United States. The Leapfrog Group on Wednesday released the fall 2021 Hospital Safety Grade, which assigns a letter grade to the nation's general hospitals based on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections that kill or harm patients. This year's list reviewed just over 2,900 hospitals, the largest number of hospitals ever graded. "As the pandemic continues, we all have heightened awareness of the importance of hospitals in our communities and in our lives," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, in a news release. "It is critical that all hospitals put patient safety first." Now we have more information on more hospitals than ever before, so people can protect themselves and their families," Binder said. Here are the rankings for Washington, according to Leapfrog: A grade EvergreenHealth, KirklandKadlec Regional Medical Center, RichlandLegacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, VancouverMultiCare Covington Medical Center, CovingtonOverlake Hospital Medical Center, BellevuePeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, VancouverPeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, BellinghamSt. Anthony Hospital, Gig HarborSt. Clare Hospital, LakewoodSt. Joseph Medical Center of Tacoma, TacomaSt. Michael Medical Center, SilverdaleSwedish Edmonds Hospital, EdmondsSwedish Health Services Issaquah, IssaquahSwedish Medical Center Cherry Hill, SeattleSwedish Medical Center First Hill, SeattleVirginia Mason Medical Center, SeattleB grade Astria Toppenish Hospital, ToppenishMultiCare Deaconess Hospital, SpokaneMulticare Good Samaritan Hospital, PuyallupMultiCare Valley Hospital, Spokane ValleyOlympic Medical Center, Port AngelesPeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, LongviewProvidence Regional Medical Center Everett, EverettProvidence Sacred Heart Medical Center, SpokaneSkagit Valley Hospital, Mount VernonSt. Anne Hospital, BurienSt. Francis Hospital of Federal Way, Federal WaySwedish Medical Center Ballard, SeattleTacoma General Hospital, TacomaTrios Women's and Children's Hospital, KennewickUniversity of Washington Medical Center - Montlake Campus, SeattleValley Medical Center, RentonC grade Capital Medical Center, OlympiaCascade Valley Hospital, ArlingtonCentral Washington Hospital, WenatcheeHarbor Regional Health Community Hospital, AberdeenHarborview Medical Center, SeattleIsland Hospital, AnacortesMultiCare Allenmore Hospital, TacomaMultiCare Auburn Medical Center, AuburnProvidence Centralia Hospital, CentraliaProvidence Holy Family Hospital, SpokaneProvidence St. Mary Medical Center, Walla WallaProvidence St. Peter Hospital, OlympiaSamaritan Hospital, Moses LakeTrios Southridge Hospital, KennewickUniversity of Washington Medical Center - Northwest Campus, SeattleYakima Valley Memorial, YakimaD grade EvergreenHealth Monroe, Monroe To determine each hospital's grade, a panel of medical experts selected 30 evidence-based measures of patient safety such as postoperative sepsis, blood leakage and kidney injury. They then determined the weight of each measure based on evidence, opportunity for improvement and patient impact. Data on each measure was collected through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Information from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, available to all hospitals to complete, also affects grades. Currently, Leapfrog does not assign grades to military or Veterans Administration hospitals, critical access hospitals, specialty hospitals, children's hospitals or outpatient surgery centers. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade methodology has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Patient Safety. The full methodology for the 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is available online. Findings from the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade include: Thirty-two percent of hospitals received an "A" grade; 26 percent received a "B," 35 percent received a "C," 7 percent received a "D," and less than 1 percent received an "F." The five states with the highest percentages of "A" hospitals are Virginia, North Carolina, Idaho, Massachusetts and Colorado. There were no "A" hospitals in Delaware, Washington, D.C. and North Dakota.