The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog) announced its list of Top Hospitals at its Annual Meeting today, highlighting the diversity of hospitals represented nationwide. Widely cited as the nation's most competitive hospital quality award, the Top Hospitals designation recognizes hospitals that deliver the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures like heart bypass surgery, and reducing readmissions for patients being treated for conditions like pneumonia and heart attack.
For the second consecutive year, rural hospitals stood out, with 22 hospitals making the 2013 Top Hospitals list (a 69-percent increase from last year). Rounding out the list are 55 Urban Hospitals and 13 Children's Hospitals.
"The field of hospitals considered for this year's elite distinction was more competitive than ever, proving that more hospitals across the country are making quality their top priority," said Leah Binder, President & CEO of Leapfrog. "The larger group of rural hospitals represented, including several critical access hospitals, shows us that any hospital in America can achieve the highest standards of quality and safety, and any community, no matter how small, can benefit from top-notch health care."
The 2013 Top Hospitals list was closely culled from a record number of 1,324 hospitals voluntarily participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. While several agencies and organizations collect and publicize hospital quality data, the Leapfrog Hospital Survey sets the highest bar for comparing hospitals' performance on the national standards of safety, quality and efficiency that are most relevant to consumers and purchasers of care. The survey provides the most comprehensive picture of how patients fare, what resources are used to care for patients and how management promotes safety and quality. To qualify for this honor, eligible hospitals must also earn an "A" from Leapfrog's Hospital Safety Score, which grades hospitals based on expert analysis of infections, injuries and medical errors.
Demonstrating the highest standards in quality of care and resource use, Top Hospitals have lower infection rates, higher survival rates for high-risk procedures, decreased length of stay and fewer readmissions. This year's list includes more than 40 hospitals receiving the award for the first time. Other highlights: The state of Missouri makes its first appearance on the list with Mercy Hospital in St. Louis; Colorado received its second Top Hospitals designation with East Morgan County Hospital; and Maine has the most number of Top Rural Hospitals (nine).
The Top Hospitals winners were recognized at a dinner keynoted by patient safety advocate Vernon Williams, held in conjunction with Leapfrog's Annual Meeting on December 3rd in Washington, DC. Author, performance improvement expert and patient advocate, Williams has channeled his family's experience with hospital errors into a campaign to improve safety in hospitals nationwide.
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