Kennedy University Hospitals Earn ‘A’ Grade for Patient Safety in Spring 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Voorhees, NJ, April 27, 2016 – Kennedy University Hospital’s three acute care facilities – located in Cherry Hill, Stratford, and Washington Township, NJ – have again each been honored with an ‘A’ grade in the Spring 2016 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections.
An announcement this week by independent hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group – which administers the Hospital Safety Score – showed Kennedy as one of only 798 U.S. hospitals to receive an ‘A’ rating, ranking among the safest hospitals in the nation. Kennedy’s three hospitals were also among only 23 in New Jersey to receive an ‘A’ grade. This marks the fourth consecutive time Kennedy’s hospitals have each earned an ‘A’ rating in the Leapfrog safety report.
“Avoidable deaths in hospitals should be the number one concern of our healthcare leaders. Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ from Leapfrog are leaders in saving lives, and we commend them and urge their continued vigilance,” said Leapfrog Group President & CEO Leah Binder.
Dr. David Condoluci, Kennedy Health’s Chief Patient Safety & Quality Officer, said the healthcare organization’s ‘A’ score in “this elite national ratings program recognizes our strong commitment to patient safety, which is our top priority as a healthcare institution.”
Kennedy President & CEO Joseph W. Devine, FACHE, added that “Kennedy is extremely proud our three hospitals have again been recognized for their commitment to patient safety with ‘A’ grades in the Hospital Safety Score.”
Developed under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
For the first time, the Hospital Safety Score included five measures of patient-reported experience, as well as two of the most common infections, C.diff and MRSA. To see Kennedy University Hospitals’ full score, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting a hospital, go to www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. Consumers can also download the free Hospital Safety Score mobile app for Apple and Android devices.
About Kennedy
Kennedy is a health services delivery system serving the communities of southern New Jersey. Kennedy meets the community’s healthcare needs at its hospital campuses in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township, NJ, and at outpatient facilities throughout Camden and Gloucester counties. Kennedy University Hospital is the Principal teaching hospital of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM). Kennedy is also a member of the Penn Cancer Network and the Jefferson Neurosciences Network (JNN).
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.