UChicago Medicine earns 8th straight 'A' for hospital safety

October 28, 2015

The University of Chicago Medicine has received its 8th consecutive "A" rating for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, an industry watchdog that tracks the record of thousands of hospitals nationwide.

Just 5 percent of the more than 2,500 graded hospitals earned the nonprofit organization's "Straight A" honor. UChicago Medicine has had an "A" since Leapfrog began the semiannual survey in June 2012. UChicago Medicine's sustained record came amid a methodology update by Leapfrog for the fall survey, which resulted in 46 percent of hospitals changing at least one letter grade.

"The University of Chicago Medicine is one of only 133 hospitals in the country to have achieved Straight A's from the Hospital Safety Score since 2012," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score. "I commend you for your consistency in putting your patients first, and urge your continued vigilance in keeping your patients safe."

Leapfrog used 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single A, B, C, D or F score, representing a hospital's overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in October 2015, with 773 hospitals receiving an A grade.

"Our initiatives aim to increase patient safety through prevention strategies and attention to all aspects of patient care," said Sharon O'Keefe, president of the medical center. "Our results are a reflection of the passion and professionalism of the entire clinical staff, from physicians to nurses to pharmacists."

Kenneth S. Polonsky, dean and executive vice president of medical affairs at the University of Chicago, said promoting the quality and safety in patient care is an ongoing mission for the medical center.

"We are laser-focused on serving our patients and the community, and we continually seek to reach higher and consistent levels of quality and safety," said Polonsky. "Our elite standing recognizes this commitment and the work done by everyone on our medical campus."

To see UChicago Medicine's scores as they compare locally and nationally, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. Leapfrog offers a full analysis of the data and methodology used in determining grades on the Hospital Safety Score website. Consumers will find tips on how to protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital visit or stay, as well as a hospital's past safety performance.