The Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Score Updates

The latest update to the Hospital Safety Score, the A, B, C, D or F scores assigned to U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections, shows that hospitals are making some progress, but many still have a long way to go to reliably deliver safe health care. For the first time, the Hospital Safety Score now identifies “D” and “F” hospitals that represent the most hazardous environments for patients in need of care. The Hospital Safety Score - first released in June of 2012 - was compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety, and administered by the independent, national nonprofit organization The Leapfrog Group. This Hospital Safety Score update accounts for the data updated over the last six months, most covering hospital performance in 2011, and uses a modified methodology based on research and public comments.

Key Findings

• Of the 2618 general hospitals issued a Hospital Safety Score, 790 earned an “A,” 678 earned a “B,” 1004 earned a “C,” 121 earned a “D” and 25 earned an “F.”
• 58 percent of hospitals maintained the same grade level as they had in the scores issued in June. Another 34 percent of hospitals changed by one grade level (some higher, some lower). About eight percent of hospitals showed more dramatic change, moving two grade levels or more up or down.
• A wide range of hospitals earned “A’s,” with no one class of hospitals (i.e., teaching hospitals, public hospitals, etc.) dominating among those showing the highest safety scores. Hospitals earning an “A” include academic medical centers New York Presbyterian Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Mayo Clinic. Many rural hospitals earned an “A,” including Geisinger Medical Center and Blessing Hospital.
• Hospitals with myriad national accolades, such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Duke University Hospital, and Cleveland Clinic Florida each earned an “A.”
• “A” scores were also earned by hospitals serving highly vulnerable, impoverished, and/or health-challenged populations, such as Bellevue Hospital Center and Detroit Receiving Hospital.

While there are several other hospital ratings in the market – many of which use Leapfrog data for their calculations – the Hospital Safety Score is unique in that it is offered free to the public, along with a full analysis of the data and methodology used to calculate each individual hospital’s Hospital Safety Score. The Hospital Safety Score relies on the advice of the nation’s foremost patient safety experts, whose participation is a voluntary contribution to Leapfrog’s nonprofit mission.

NBCH member coalitions make up the majority of the Regional Roll-Out Leaders for Leapfrog.  These coalitions use the Hospital Safety Score in their communities to work with employers and other purchaser members on contracting, value-based purchasing, benefits design, and employee educational programs to spur safety improvements in our hospitals.