DuBOIS, Pa. (EYT) — The 2016 Fall Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades have been released and two area hospitals have received C ratings.
Penn Highlands DuBois and Punxsutawney Hospital both received C ratings.
For PH DuBois, the C rating is its lowest since 2013 when they did not have a score in the Spring rating.
DuBois received A ratings in the Fall of 2013, both in 2014 and Spring 2015. DuBois received B ratings in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.
In the Infections category, DuBois rated above average in preventing C. diff infections, infection in the blood during stays in the intensive care unit, infections in the urinary tract during stays in the ICU and surgical site infections after colon surgery.
They rated below average in MRSA infections.
In the Problems with Surgery category, DuBois rated above average in surgical wound splits open, death from serious treatable complications, serious breathing problem and dangerous blood cots.
They rated below average in leaving a dangerous object left in a patient’s body, collapsed lung and accidental cuts and tears.
In Practices to Prevent Errors, DuBois declined to report on doctors ordering medications with a computer, staff accurately recording patient medications and staff working together to prevent errors. They rated below average in communication about medicines and communication about discharge.
In Safety Problems, DuBois rated above average in preventing dangerous bed sores, patient falls and air or gas bubble in the blood. It declined to report on tracking and reducing risks to patients and taking steps to prevent ventilator problems.
In Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff, DuBois didn’t report on training to improve safety, effective leadership to prevent errors and enough qualified nurses.
The rated below average on specially trained doctors care for ICU patients, communication with doctors, communication with nurses and responsiveness with hospital staff.
At Punxsutawney Hospital, they received A ratings in 2013 and 2014, a B rating in Spring 2015 and weren’t rated in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.
In the Infections category, Punxsy rated above average in preventing MRSA infections, C. diff infections and surgical site infection after surgeries.
For infections in the blood and in the urinary tract during ICU stays, there was no data available.
In the Problems with Surgery category, Punxsy rated above average in preventing dangerous objects in the patient’s body, collapsed lung and serious breathing problems.
They rated below average in preventing dangerous blood clots and accidental cuts and tears. Information wasn’t available for surgical wounds splitting open and death from serious treatable complications.
In the Practices to Prevent Errors category, Punxsy rated above average in doctors ordering medications through a computer, handwashing, communication about medicines and discharge.
It rated below average in staff accurately recording patient medications and working together to prevent errors.
In the Safety Problems category, Punxsy rated below average in patient falls, tracking and reducing patient risks and preventing ventilator problems.
It rated above average in preventing dangerous bed sores and air or gas bubbles in the blood.
In the Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff category, Punxsy rated below average in training to improve safety, effective leadership to prevent errors, enough qualified nurses and specially-trained doctors caring for ICU patients.
It rated average in communication with doctors and above average in communication with nurses and hospital staff responsiveness.
Ratings can be found at hospitalsafetygrade.org.
According to its website, leapfroggroup.org, the Leapfrog Group was founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers. It is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care.
The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
In just 16 years, The Leapfrog Group has grown and now reports data on more than 1,800 hospitals, with regional partnerships in 38 states.
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