Highpoint Health Receives "A" Grade From National Hospital Safety Organization

Highpoint Health was among only 750 hospitals across the country to receive an “A” from The Leapfrog Group.

Highpoint Health CEO Michael Schwebler. File photo.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Highpoint Health received the grade of “A” from The Leapfrog Group, a well-known Washington D.C. based organization whose aim is to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.  The top grade being awarded to Highpoint Health was announced today when the quality organization released its new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades to the public.

Leapfrog’s Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care. Highpoint Health was among only 750 hospitals nationally to receive an “A” for its efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards.

“We are extremely proud of the work done by our staff to achieve this recognition,” stated Michael W. Schwebler, Highpoint Health President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Being awarded an ‘A’ is a testament to the exceptional work done each day at Highpoint Health to keep our patients safe and free from harm.”

“The ‘A’ grade recognizes Highpoint Health’s commitment to providing a total quality experience for our patients, every time,” added Dr. Nancy Kennedy, Highpoint Health Chief Medical Officer.  “We need to do all we can to make sure our patients’ hospital visits are exceptional in all aspects of care.”

“Leapfrog is the only national rating of how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm and death, such as medical errors, infections, and injuries,” said Leah Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Leapfrog Group. “Receiving an ‘A’ Safety Grade means a hospital is among the best in the country for preventing these terrible problems and putting their patients first, 24 hours a day.”

Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to approximately 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

Highpoint Health’s full grade details and access to patient tips for staying safe in the hospital are available at www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.  The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook.

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.