South San Francisco, CA May 9, 2023 Submitted by Karl Sonkin, Kaiser Permanente
The Leapfrog Group’s biannual safety report gives Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco hospital an “A” for limiting patient injuries, reducing medical errors, and preventing infections
The Leapfrog Group recognized Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco hospital with a top score of “A” in its biannual Hospital Safety Grades report. After reviewing hospital clinical performance, The Leapfrog Group assigned letter grades to nearly 3,000 hospitals throughout the United States.
Hospitals received grades based on approximately two dozen measures that analyze patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
This spring, 17 Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California received “A” scores including: Antioch, Fremont, Fresno, Manteca, Modesto, Oakland, Richmond, Roseville, San Francisco, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, Vacaville, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Redwood City, Sacramento, and San Jose received “B” scores.
More than 80% of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (17 of 21) hospitals received an “A” grade. In California overall, only 34% of the state’s hospitals earned the top grade.
“Patient safety is paramount at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco,” said Sheila Gilson, senior vice president and area manager of the Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center. “And to again be honored as one of the nation’s top hospitals for patient safety recognizes the hard work of our physicians, nurses, and staff at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco on a daily basis.”
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.
“Our physicians put our patients at the center of everything they do,” said John Skerry, MD, physician in chief at Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco. “Our advanced technology, integrated delivery model, and coordinated care combined with compassion and safety helped Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco earn this honor.”
Kaiser Permanente is one of America’s leading integrated health care providers and serves more than 12.6 million members. Nationally, 29 of 39 Kaiser Permanente hospitals, nearly 75% percent, received a Leapfrog Safety “A” grade. In contrast, less than 30% of the nation’s hospitals received an “A” rating.
For more information and a complete list of the hospital safety grades, visit Leapfrog.
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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 12.6 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. For more information, go to about.kp.org