Swedish Covenant Hospital recognized as one of 55 Top Urban Hospitals in the country

Swedish Covenant Hospital was honored as one of 55 Top Urban Hospitals in the country today at the Leapfrog Group's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.. The only Chicago institution to earn what is widely cited as the nation's most competitive annual hospital quality awards this year, Swedish Covenant Hospital was recognized for delivering the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures and reducing patient readmissions.

Swedish Covenant Hospital was selected as a Top Hospital out of a record number of 1,324 organizations participating in The Leapfrog Group's annual survey. The list includes 22 Top Rural Hospitals, 55 Top Urban Hospitals and 13 Top Children's Hospitals. Institutions reaching this achievement include academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, children's hospitals, and community hospitals in rural, suburban and urban settings.

"We believe that our ties to Chicago's north side community and our commitment to providing only the best care for all patient populations are critical elements of our position as a Top Hospital," said Mark Newton, Swedish Covenant Hospital CEO. "This recognition underscores the resiliency of community-based hospitals and our ability to provide the best care in the country."

As one of the few independent, nonprofit hospitals in the north side, Swedish Covenant Hospital promotes healing and healthy living by providing expert care and unmatched patient services in state-of-the-art facilities. It is one of the only hospitals in Chicago to offer 3D mammography and the most sophisticated heart-imaging technology.

Swedish Covenant Hospital has served its community for more than 125 years and is responsible for a $275 million annual economic impact, with more than half of its employees living within five miles of the hospital. Meanwhile, a majority of patients come from within the hospital's service area, with others travelling from across the Midwest to seek expert care from a network of more than 600 physicians.

"The field of hospitals' considered for this year's elite Leapfrog Top Hospital distinction was more competitive than ever," said Leah Binder, President & CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "By achieving the Top Hospital accolade, Swedish Covenant Hospital has demonstrated exemplary performance across all areas of quality and patient safety that are analyzed on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. If my family or friends needed care, I'd be comfortable sending them to Swedish Covenant Hospital."

Leapfrog Group's annual hospital survey measures hospitals' performance on patient safety and quality, focusing on three critical areas of hospital care: how patients fare, resource use, and management structures in place to prevent errors.

Several best practices instituted by Swedish Covenant Hospital's staff were cited by Newton as helping contribute to the Top Hospital award. For example, a team-based approach to care contributed to a zero percent in-hospital and operative mortality rates for open heart bypass surgery over the past two years. At the same time, 100 percent of Swedish Covenant Hospital's open heart patients were referred to cardiac rehabilitation; that's 11 percentage points higher than the national average, thanks to a partnership with Chicago's premier medical fitness facility, Galter LifeCenter.

The Top Hospital prestigious designation comes on the heels of Swedish Covenant Hospital's fourth consecutive "A" hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group and recognition by U.S. News and World Report as "High Performing" in five specialty areas.

Swedish Covenant Hospital