South San Francisco, CA May 6, 2021 by Matt Skryja, Kaiser PIO
The Leapfrog Group’s biannual safety report gives Kaiser Permanente hospitals top scores for limiting patient injuries, reducing medical errors, and preventing infections
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 4, 2021 – The Leapfrog Group recognized 16 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals with a top score of “A” in its biannual Hospital Safety Grades report, which examined and graded approximately 2,700 hospitals throughout the United States.
Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California with “A” scores include: Fremont, Fresno, Manteca, Modesto, Oakland, Redwood City, Richmond, Roseville, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, Vacaville, and Vallejo. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Antioch, San Jose, South Sacramento, and Walnut Creek received “B” scores.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the collective national health care system. Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals continue to be consistently recognized as among the country’s best for outstanding patient safety, positive outcomes, and patient experience.
In addition to the Leapfrog Group ratings, Cal Hospital Compare, which features quality and performance information on California hospitals, also recently named eight Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals to its Patient Safety Honor Roll. The hospitals include Fresno, Manteca, Redwood City, Roseville, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, and Vallejo.
The Patient Safety Honor Roll uses patient safety measures to evaluate hospitals across a variety of areas including hospital acquired infections, adverse patient safety events, sepsis management, patient experience, and Leapfrog Hospital Safety grade. The eight Kaiser Permanente Northern California were among a total of 73 California hospitals that made the honor roll.
“The Leapfrog hospital safety score is truly the gold standard in safe patient care. We are proud of this national recognition as it reflects our strong commitment to patient care,” said Ron Groepper, senior VP and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Greater San Francisco Area. “This award reflects our leadership, collaboration, and desire to deliver exceptional, high-quality care.”
More about the Leapfrog Safety Grades
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits, released its Hospital Safety Grades after examining publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors and infections at U.S. hospitals. The report includes data collected by national health care organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Scores are calculated based on more than two dozen publicly available measures, and hospitals are then assigned A, B, C, D, or F grades for their safety records. The grades are released as a free resource to help patients and their families make informed health care decisions.
“The top score and Patient Safety Honor Roll achievements are further proof that at Kaiser Permanente we put our patients and their care first,” said John Skerry, MD, physician in chief, Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco. “We are pleased to be recognized for the high-quality health care provided by our physicians, nurses and staff who passionately work to keep our patients safe, particularly in these challenging times.”
Kaiser Permanente is one of America’s leading integrated health care providers and serves more than 12.4 million members. Nationally, 31 of 39 Kaiser Permanente hospitals, or nearly 80 percent, received a Leapfrog Safety “A” grade. Nationwide, approximately one-third of hospitals received an A rating.
For more information and a complete list of the hospital safety grades, visit Leapfrog.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. http://about.kaiserpermanente.org