Coshocton, OH, May 5, 2017 – Coshocton Regional Medical Center is one of only 15 percent of hospitals nationwide to receive an “A” for its commitment to reducing errors, infections, and accidents that can harm patients. The rating has been released by The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health care system. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide based on up to 30 different nationally-reported patient safety measures that indicate how well hospitals protect their patients from preventable errors, injuries and infections.
Earning an “A” grade for safety requires strict adherence to the National Quality Forum-endorsed safe practices that, when used by hospitals, reduce the risk of harm. These practices focus on a variety of areas including effective clinical communication, infection prevention, improved medication management, and the development and nurturing a hospital-wide culture of safety.
Since joining the Prime Healthcare Foundation on November 1, 2016, Coshocton Regional Medical Center has launched several initiatives to further enhance the focus on patient safety, including implementing standards in the emergency department to reduce the average time spent from arrival to admission or discharge by more than 50 percent, implementing ongoing reviews of safety processes to meet exacting Prime Healthcare standards, and managing medication accuracy with the use of electronic bedside medication verification. The medication system requires a scan of both the patient’s wristband and the medication barcodes to ensure accurate medications and dosages are administered. In addition, the hospital is replacing its telemetry systems for heart and vital sign monitoring on all patient units and in the emergency department for further enhancement to patient safety.
“The Leapfrog Safety ‘A’ Grade Rating is a terrific achievement for us, as it reflects the work that has been done to reduce risk and increase patient safety in all elements of patient care,” stated Stephanie Conn, RN, MSN, Administrator/CNO, at Coshocton Regional Medical Center. “At every level, our staff members have been trained to precisely follow the procedures in place to prevent the risk of infection, medical errors, and accidents that can harm patients. This achievement highlights a hospital-wide dedication to patient safety and each employee’s commitment to providing the highest quality care to our patients and our communities.”
“Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”
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 Coshocton Regional Medical Center’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org. For information about Coshocton Regional Medical Center, visit www.coshoctonhospital.org.