Hospitals earn consecutive ‘A’ grade in national safety ranking amid pandemic

Baptist hospitals earn country’s top safety honors

(San Antonio, TX) – Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants have weighed on the health care industry across the nation. Baptist Health System in San Antonio, however, is shining nationally for its commitment to keeping patients and staff safe. Once again this year, Baptist Health System hospitals were awarded the highest ‘A’ rating for hospital safety from the national Leapfrog Group. This is the second grading period in a row this year for both spring and fall that the following Baptist hospitals earned straight ‘As’ for their record of patient safety.

Baptist hospitals earning the ‘A” grade include Baptist Medical Center, downtown; Northeast Baptist Hospital on Loop 410 at Starcrest Drive; North Central Baptist Hospital in Stone Oak; St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital in the Medical Center; and Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels.

Matt Stone, chief executive officer for Baptist Health System, said the straight ‘As’ achieved across the system is a testament to the dedication of the staff in upholding patient safety as their top priority. “The residents of San Antonio and New Braunfels deserve the safest care and we are proud that they can count on us to protect them and their families and to keep our staff and physicians safe,” Stone said. “We can all be proud to have this level of safe care here in our communities,” he said.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score is a rating system designed to give consumers information they can use to make healthcare decisions for themselves or a loved one. The Leapfrog Group is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The group assigns A, B, C, D, and F grades twice annually to nearly 3,000 U.S. general acute-care hospitals based on their ability to prevent medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Developed under the guidance of a national panel of experts, the Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is based on 22 evidence-based national performance measures, is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, reiterated the “tremendous achievements” of Baptist hospitals to protect patients and families.

“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, for which this community should be extremely proud,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of Baptist Health System for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times,” she said.

To see Baptist Health System’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

Read more about the Leapfrog Group.