Johnston Health, which has hospitals in Smithfield and Clayton, has earned an “A” safety grade from The Leapfrog Group for the second time in the past two years. The rating highlights the health care system’s commitment to reducing errors, infections and accidents that can harm patients.
The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization that strives to bring safety, quality and affordability of health care in the U.S. by promoting transparency. Johnston Health was one of 823 hospitals to receive an “A” grade, ranking among the safest hospitals in the United States.
“Patient safety comes first at Johnston Health,” said Chuck Elliott, CEO and president of Johnston Health. “Every day, our dedicated employees and medical providers work hard to ensure that we’re providing a safe environment and expert care for our patients.”
The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
“Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”
This is the latest top rating for Johnston Health, who has also received quality recognitions from such organizations as The Joint Commission as a “Top Performer” and iVantage Health Analytics as one of the “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals” in the country.
To see Johnston Health’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org
About Johnston Health
Johnston Health is the health care system serving Johnston County. It operates acute care hospitals in Smithfield and Clayton, which are licensed for a combined 199 beds. Since February 2014, Johnston Health has been part of UNC Health Care.
About The Leapfrog Group
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. Hospital Safety Score, 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.
