HAIs, Accidents and Injuries Remain a Persistent Problem, Despite Signs of Hospital Efforts

At a time of unprecedented attention on U.S. hospitals, statistics suggest that more than 1,000 people die each day in the U.S. because of preventable hospital errors. That doesn't include the many others who survive accidents and injuries that take place in a hospital setting, reinforcing the need for hospital vigilance and patient awareness. However, not all hospitals are equal. Released today, new data from The Leapfrog Group provides updated patient safety ratings for more than 2,500 general hospitals, helping consumers to make smarter choices in their personal healthcare.

The Fall 2014 update to Leapfrog's Hospital Safety Score, which assigns A, B, C, D and F grades to hospitals based on their ability to prevent errors, injuries and infections, shows that while hospitals have made significant improvements when it comes to implementing processes of care and safe practices, performance on outcomes lags behind. Since April 2014, there's been improvement on all 15 of Leapfrog's "process" measures-such as hand hygiene and physician staffing in intensive care units. However, the data also points to a lack of progress on outcomes, with hospitals even declining on certain measures, such as preventing surgical site infections in patients who have undergone major colon surgery. 

"While the data tells us that hospitals are improving their safe practices, it's concerning to see them moving backwards on any measure. Patients enter a hospital trusting they're in a safe place, but with 41 percent of hospitals receiving a 'C,' 'D' or 'F' grade, it's clear that some hospitals are safer than others," says Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog, the not-for-profit organization that administers the Hospital Safety Score. 

Binder notes the Hospital Safety Scores are being released to the public at a time when Ebola has drawn the subject of patient safety into sharp focus. More specifically, the spotlight has landed on Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas for its apparent missteps in diagnosing an Ebola patient. This hospital received an "A" grade on the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score for its past performance on safety measures.

"Though we don't have much data on infectious diseases specifically, such as Ebola, we know that some hospitals are much better than others at preventing harm. Yet even "A" hospitals make mistakes, and sometimes patients are harmed. Based on the data Leapfrog used in the Hospital Safety Score, Texas Health Presbyterian is among the safer hospitals in the nation. The recent mishandling of Ebola cases proves that as a country, our hospitals must work harder to become prepared for this and any future threats," adds Binder.

Binder notes that with up to 400,000 lives lost annually and 1 in 25 patients acquiring an infection in the hospital, it's crucial for consumers to be proactive about their healthcare.

"Consumers have largely taken the time to educate themselves about insurance plans and pricing. Now, we need patients to take the next step, putting safety first, for themselves and their families, and that means seeking out the safest hospitals in their area. The Hospital Safety Score arms consumers with that information," adds Binder. 

Additional Key Findings:
•Of the 2,520 hospitals issued a Hospital Safety Score, 790 earned an "A," 688 earned a "B," 868 earned a "C," 148 earned a "D" and 26 earned an "F."
•On average, hospitals have shown statistically significant improvement on all 15 Hospital Safety Score "process" measures since Spring 2014. These measures include hand hygiene, physician staffing in intensive care units and medication reconciliation.
•Of the Hospital Safety Score's 13 "outcome" measures, the only significant improvement since Spring 2014 was seen in preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units.
•While the number of CLABSI infections decreased, there was a statistically significant increase in another hospital acquired infection –surgical site infections among patients who have undergone major colon surgery (SSI: Colon). 
•For the third time in a row, zero hospitals in the District of Columbia received an "A" grade. Additionally, North Dakota had zero hospitals with an "A" grade. That said, this shows some improvement over Spring 2014, when four states and the District of Columbia had zero hospitals receiving an "A."
•Maine once again claimed the number-one spot for the state with the highest percentage of "A" hospitals, with 67 percent of "As" (12 of 18 hospitals graded).
•Several states moved up in the "A" rankings, including Wisconsin and Florida-which broke into the top 10-and Virginia and New Jersey, which broke into the top five.
•72 hospitals (or less than 3 percent) changed by two or more grades, showing either a significant improvement or significant decline.

The Hospital Safety Score is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. A full analysis of the data and methodology used in determining grades is available online at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. The newly re-launched website now includes consumer-friendly videos and tips for patients and their loved ones. A Hospital Safety Score mobile app is also available for download.

Source: The Leapfrog Group