University of Chicago Medicine earns 9th straight 'A' in hospital safety rating

Medical center among only 98 in the U.S. to earn consecutive top marks from prestigious group

April 25, 2016

The University of Chicago Medicine received its 9th consecutive "A" rating for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, an industry watchdog that tracks thousands of hospitals nationwide.

While 798 of the 2,571 U.S. hospitals garnered an "A" grade in the Spring 2016 Hospital Safety Score survey, UChicago Medicine is one of only 98 facilities to earn an "A" rating in each semiannual Leapfrog survey since the group began publishing results in June 2012.

The latest results were released Monday.

"This level of consistency reflects our dedication to the quality and safety of our patients, the commitment to the highest level of training for our entire medical and non-clinical staff, and a well-coordinated team effort by all our employees," said Kenneth Polonsky, MD, executive vice president of medical affairs at the University of Chicago. "We do not take these results for granted. There is no higher priority in anything that we do."

Leapfrog uses 30 different evidence-based measures of patient safety to produce a single A, B, C, D or F score, representing a hospital's overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm.

This year, the group also included several measures from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, a national, standardized methodology that measures patients' satisfaction with hospital care.

"It's very rewarding to have our hard work and dedication to patient safety recognized and honored in this manner," said University of Chicago Medical Center President Sharon O'Keefe. "We take pride in knowing that our patients not only receive unparalleled medical care but that they receive it in one of the safest health care environments in the country. "

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 can also 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.