Wellmont Health System hospitals score impressively in latest examination by nonprofit organization
KINGSPORT – Wellmont Health System hospitals continue to excel in scoring from a national organization that evaluates patient safety.
Bristol Regional Medical Center and Takoma Regional Hospital recently received scores of “A” from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that promotes transparency and value-based hospital incentives.
“Patient safety is a critical component of our care, and we take great pride when third-party evaluators conclude we are on the right track,” said Tracey Moffatt, Wellmont’s chief operating officer. “Every day, our physicians and staff are focused on providing a high-quality experience for our patients. It’s our way of showing respect for those who entrust their care and rely on us to improve their health.”
The grades are part of The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score program, which reviews 28 evidence-based performance measures.
The organization says the measures are derived from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Secondary data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey were also factored into the equation.
The data produce a score that represents a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors.
Among the measures in which Takoma and Bristol Regional scored strongly included their safety culture, nursing staffing and education, medication reconciliation, hand hygiene, identification and mitigation of risks and hazards and care of ventilated patients. Takoma also received excellent scores for its leadership structures and systems and computerized provider order entry, while Bristol Regional shined with its intensive care unit physician staffing.
“Our health system is proud of these results, but we will continue to look for ways to enhance the care we deliver in all facets, including the areas where we earned exceptional scores,” Moffatt said. “Patient safety can never be taken lightly, so we will continue to review our policies and procedures to ensure the compassionate care for which we are known continues to meet expectations.”
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