For the fourth consecutive survey period, an independent national healthcare watchdog organization has given Blessing Hospital a grade of “A” for patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group, founded by 2,000 large employers and other purchasers of healthcare, assigns a letter grade of A through F every six months to approximately 2,900 general hospitals across the country. Grades are based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

Typically, around one-third of hospitals surveyed receive a grade of ‘A.’ In addition to receiving the top grade for the spring 2022 survey, Blessing earned ‘A’ grades for both survey periods in 2021 and the fall survey period of 2020.

“As health care systems continue to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the caregivers and leadership of Blessing Hospital for a sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ safety grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. The communities served by Blessing Hospital should be proud.”

“I didn’t think I could be more proud of our providers and Blessing Hospital staff than I was during their pandemic response,” said Maureen Kahn, RN, MSN, MHA, president/chief executive officer, Blessing Health System/Blessing Hospital. “But their accomplishments in patient safety clearly show that while they were dealing with a vicious virus and the enormous demand for care it caused, the Blessing Hospital team remained sharply focused on patient safety.”

“This fourth straight ‘A’ grade for patient safety brings my pride in the Blessing Hospital team to an even higher level,” she added.

“Patient safety is not a one-time accomplishment,” said Mary Frances Barthel, MD, MHCM, SFHM, FACP, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Blessing Health System. “Blessing Hospital caregivers must re-earn their ‘A’ grade with each patient, each day.”

“Healthcare providers are humans and humans are not perfect, and no process or procedure is foolproof,” she continued. “Yet patients deserve the highest level of safety possible and Blessing Hospital caregivers are committed to doing everything they can to deliver that level of care on every shift, every day,” Dr. Barthel concluded.

To see Blessing Hospital’s grade details visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.