MOULTRIE – Colquitt Regional recently received its 18th “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
This national distinction celebrates Colquitt Regional’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors, the hospital said in a press release.
Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
“We consistently review all our safety measures and protocols to ensure that patient safety remains the top priority,” said Colquitt Regional President and CEO Jim Matney.
“Last November, we opened our brand new, state-of-the-art medical education center,” Matney said. “This addition allows us to expand our training and education capabilities, which greatly enhances patient safety. Now, nurses and other members of the care team can utilize this facility to get hands-on, realistic experience in a life-like environment, which bolsters their expertise and confidence.”
Among the 30 measures used to evaluate each hospital, Colquitt Regional earned a perfect score in the following categories: computerized physician order entry, bar code medication administration, ICU physician staffing, culture of leadership structures and systems, culture measurement, feedback and intervention, total nursing care hours per patient day, and hand hygiene.
“Everyone who works at Colquitt Regional should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes complete dedication of at every level and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first. I thank Colquitt Regional, its leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for caring so deeply for its patients and their safety.”
Colquitt Regional also scored 91 percent or higher in the categories of nurse communication and doctor communication.
“This 18th ‘A’ is a testament to our employees and their unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality and safest care to all who enter our doors,” said Hospital Authority Chairman Richard E. Turner Jr. “Each team member plays a vital role in maintaining a safe environment and I commend them for this award.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public; view results online at HospitalSafetyGrade.org. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.