Five hospitals in Chicago have earned a D grade in a new safety report from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization. An analysis from Leapfrog explained that patients at D grade facilities face a 92 percent greater risk of avoidable death.
The five Chicago hospitals that were graded D on safety measures by Leapfrog are:
- Jackson Park Hospital
- Loretto Hospital
- Stroger Hospital
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- Weiss Memorial Hospital
Throughout Illinois, 42 hospitals earned an A grade, 30 earned a B, and 33 earned a C. Not all hospitals were included in the grading, as there was not enough data available to review some. Overall, Illinois ranked 14th in the country in hospital safety, according to the new Leapfrog analysis.
About Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades
Leapfrog issues grades for hospitals twice a year. Of the more than 2,600 hospitals that were graded in the latest report, 32 percent earned an A, 26 percent earned a B, 36 percent earned a C, 6 percent earned a D, and just less than 1 percent earned an F.
The Leapfrog grades are based on 28 measures of safety, which are divided into two categories: Process and Structural Measures and Outcome Measures. The 28 measures of hospital safety evaluated by Leapfrog are:
- Nurse Communication
- Doctor Communication
- Staff Responsiveness
- Communication About Medicines
- Discharge Information
- Nursing Workforce
- Hand Hygiene
- Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)
- Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA)
- Information Technology Supplement
- Leadership Structures and Systems
- Culture Measurement, Feedback and Intervention
- Identification and Mitigation of Risks and Hazards
- Foreign Object Retained
- Air Embolism
- Falls and Trauma
- CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection)
- CAUTI (Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection)
- Surgical Site Infection: Colon
- MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
- Diff. (Clostridium Difficile Infection)
- Pressure Ulcer Rate
- Death Rate Among Surgical Inpatients with Serious Treatable Conditions
- Iatrogenic Pneumothorax Rate
- Postoperative Respiratory Failure Rate
- Perioperative PE/DVT Rate
- Postoperative Wound Dehiscence Rate
- Unrecognized Abdominopelvic Accidental Puncture/Laceration Rate
Combined, these measures help paint a picture of a hospital’s overall level of patient safety. “We’re looking at patient safety, period,” Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said in an article in the Chicago Tribune. “It doesn’t matter if you have the greatest surgeon in the world, if you get an infection or there’s an error in the medications you’re given, you’ll be harmed or even killed from those problems.”
Talk to a Chicago Hospital Negligence Lawyer
Have you or a loved one been harmed due to hospital negligence in Chicago? The experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are here to help. Our team can review the details of your case in a free consultation and explain your legal rights.
As longtime Chicago medical malpractice attorneys, we know the reputations and the track records of the hospitals and health care facilities in Cook County and throughout Illinois. Our team can thoroughly investigate your claim and work with medical experts to build a strong case for full and fair compensation. Call us today at 1-877-975-7991 or contact us online to get started.
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