Harrison Memorial Hospital Nationally Recognized With An ‘A’ For the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
Harrison Memorial Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ in fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Harrison Memorial Hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. HMH is one of 16 hospitals in Kentucky to receive an A grade.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general acute-care hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.
“HMH is honored to be awarded this score for the fourth time in the last two years. Great care begins with safe care, and safe care can only be achieved when the whole organization is focused and committed to it every day with every patient encounter. This commitment begins with the Board of Directors,” says Sheila Currans, HMH Chief Executive Officer. “Over the past several years the resources to invest in patient safety technology has been provided by the board. Computerized physician order entry, bar scanning for medications and decision support tools for the clinical staff are just a few of the tools made available to enhance efforts to be the best we can be at HMH. However, tools are only as good as your staff, and the staff members at HMH, including physicians, nurses, technologists and therapists, have all embraced the belief that we can become error free one day. It is a lofty goal, but one we work toward every day. I am very proud to be a part of that culture at HMH.”
“We see in the news every day the extraordinary courage of clinicians and staff caring for patients stricken by COVID-19. What’s less apparent—yet equally laudable—are the untold efforts behind the scenes to protect patients. Hospitals’ commitment to the fundamentals have saved lives too, like preventing infection, ensuring universal hand hygiene, and double and triple checking everything to avoid errors,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We are grateful for the heroic efforts of hospitals across the Nation and applaud their efforts that are protecting our families.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is reviewed by a National Expert Panel and receives guidance from Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. The biannual Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is independently assessed, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Data used to calculate Hospital Safety Grades include up to 27 measures, gathered primarily from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Harrison Memorial Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ grade today, when Leapfrog announced grades for the fall 2020 update. To see Harrison Memorial Hospital’s full grade details, learn how employers can help, and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.
About Harrison Memorial Hospital
Harrison Memorial Hospital, located in Cynthiana, Kentucky, is a community-owned, not-for-profit, 61-bed hospital that was established in 1906. It offers a full range of services and an exceptional staff. HMH more than 450 outstanding employees, in addition to a 17-member active physician staff and more than 100 physicians on consulting staff. Harrison Memorial is considered by its peers as a progressive entity in rural health.