Nearly a quarter of Illinois hospitals have been awarded grade A this fall by hospital safety non-profit The Leapfrog Group, who evaluates safety measures across general hospitals in the US, according to the Chicago Tribune. Three Illinois-based institutions—the University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, and Elmhurst Hospital—have remained at the top since 2012.
Its evaluations reflect the same criteria employed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as stated by Dr. Lakshmi Halasyamani, the System Chief Clinical Officer at NorthShore, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
About 15% of the A-rated Illinoian hospitals are in Chicago. 7% of participant hospitals received a D, with no hospital rating an F. In the NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health network, six of seven eligible hospitals bagged A grades, as reported by Patch.
According to Dr. Tom Spiegel, Chief Quality Officer at University of Chicago Medicine, achieving safety requires open communication and transparency among staff. Infection management is a daily topic of discussion, with the hospital promoting risk event reporting rather than hiding them.
High Leapfrog grades aid in patient trust, but Dr. Kimberly Darey, President of Elmhurst Hospital, advocates for building stronger community connections through constant improvement. Elmhurst, as a result of their staff's collective efforts, is one of only 18 hospitals across U.S. and three in Illinois to receive grade A in all 24 Leapfrog grading cycles since 2012.
On the other hand, St. Bernard Hospital in Englewood, with an F ranking in 2021, bagged its second A-grade this year. Using Leapfrog data as a guide, the hospital hired a patient safety leader and installed a digital hand hygiene monitoring system. Improved communication about patient safety has led to useful community dialogues, says CEO Charles Holland, emphasizing equal care quality across facilities.
Rush University Medical Center, primarily receiving A grades since 2012, insists on aiming for zero harm. Dr. Paul Casey, Chief Medical Officer, relays that infection prevention teams make daily rounds ensuring the best care for their yearly 30,000 patients, including timely removal of monitors and catheters.
Meanwhile, Roseland Community Hospital improved from an F in spring to a C this fall. Still, patient experience continues to deteriorate, likely due to labor shortages in the industry.
Ranking 28 out of 50 states in safety grades, CEO Binder expresses her hope for Illinois to make it to the top ten, acknowledging the constant innovation and leadership exemplified by Illinoian hospitals.
