West Jefferson Medical Center Awarded Spring 2023 ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group
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Grade reflects top national performance on patient safety through COVID-19 pandemic
Marrero, LA –West Jefferson Medical Center received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates West Jefferson Medical Center’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.
“Day in and day out, our staff works diligently to ensure our patients receive safe and quality care. Patient safety is among our top priorities at West Jefferson Medical Center and receiving an “A” Safety Grade honor affirms our providers, nurses and staff’s dedicated effort and commitment to patient safety,” said Rob Calhoun, President and Chief Executive Officer at West Jefferson Medical Center.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“This new update of Hospital Safety Grades shows that, at the national level, we saw deterioration in patient safety with the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “But this hospital received an ‘A’ despite those challenges. I congratulate all the leaders, staff, volunteers and clinicians who together made that possible.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
“Our Westbank community depends heavily on us for their care and all of our team members work closely together to prevent risks and provide the best medical care to all who come through our doors,” comments Darlene Gondrella, Vice President of Quality at West Jefferson Medical Center. “I am elated to hear our physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff’s hard work was deserving of this prestigious award. I am extremely proud.”
To see West Jefferson Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook and via its newsletter.
About West Jefferson Medical Center
Founded in 1956, West Jefferson Medical Center (West Jefferson) is a 419-bed community hospital located in Marrero, La. As a full-service medical center, West Jefferson offers comprehensive programs for preventive, emergency, acute and rehabilitative care with a medical staff of more than 450 physicians and a complement of 1,700 employees and many volunteers. The medical center enjoys national awards for clinical excellence across many of its subspecialties.
West Jefferson is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system serving the healthcare needs of the Gulf Coast region. LCMC Health currently manages award-winning community hospitals including Children’s Hospital, Touro, New Orleans East Hospital, University Medical Center New Orleans, East Jefferson General Hospital and West Jefferson Medical Center.