News

June 17, 2015

Good Samaritan Medical Center Earns Straight A’s for Patient Safety from The Leapfrog Group

Hospital Earns Six Consecutive “A” Scores since 2012
Good Samaritan Medical Center has been recognized for its dedication to patient safety with an A grade in the Spring 2015 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital. The hospital is also being recognized as a “Straight As” hospital, having never received a grade lower than an A since the Hospital Safety Score first launched in June 2012. Good Samaritan is a six-time recipient.
 
The first and only hospital rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety, the Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety and uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single A, B, C, D, or F score, representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in April 2015 – only about 31 percent receiving an A.
 
“Patient safety is the top priority for everyone at Good Samaritan Medical Center – from our doctors and nurses to our environmental services team,” said John Jurczyk, FACHE, hospital president. “It’s a great honor to be recognized as a ‘Straight As’ hospital. This achievement is a true testament to the amazing work being done by our entire team and their ongoing commitment to the many safety programs we have in place to keep our patients and families safe during their care.”
 
Some of the safety programs implemented at Good Samaritan Medical Center include fall reduction initiatives and leadership rounding, during which senior managers of the hospital visit with patients to discuss their experience and address any questions or concerns, while surveying the patient care environment to ensure no safety concerns are present.
 
Good Samaritan Medical Center’s achievement of 'Straight As' validates its achievement in preventing harm within the hospital, and we are proud to recognize the efforts of the care providers and staff,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score. “Patient safety requires constant vigilance, and we encourage Good Samaritan and all other A hospitals to continue demonstrating unrelenting commitment to patients by consistently working to provide a safe environment for care.”
 
On the Hospital Safety Score website, patients can review their hospital’s past safety performance alongside its current grade, allowing them to determine which local hospitals have the best track record in patient safety. To see Good Samaritan Medical Center’s score and access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.