Banning Hospital Receives "C" in Hospital Safety Grade

BANNING, CA – The Pass Area's local hospital was listed as "average" among all those in the nation when it comes to overall patient safety, according to a new report released this week by a nonprofit founded by employers and health care providers. The Leapfrog Group announced its fall 2016 hospital safety rankings, a measure of how safe a hospital is for patients.

At the state level, California was ranked 26th in the nation in the latest Hospital Safety Grade report. Hawaii was ranked number one.

More than 2,600 hospitals were graded across the United States, 266 of which are in California. A total of nine hospitals in the state received an "F" grade in the report — two of which are located right here in Riverside County.

In California, there are 81 "A" hospitals up and down the state. There are another 63 "B" hospitals and 88 "C." The remaining 25 hospitals that were ranked in California received a "D."

Here in Banning, San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital received a "C" overall score.

To compile its rankings, the Leapfrog Group uses "30 evidence-based measures of patient safety," including things like patient injuries, accidents and infections. Numerical scores are converted into letter grades. Of the 2,633 hospitals evaluated nationwide, 844 earned an “A,” 658 earned a “B,” 954 earned a “C,” 157 earned a “D” and 20 earned an “F."

According to the report, San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital scored low in things like:

• C. diff infections
• Infection in the urinary tract during ICU stay
• Collapsed lung
• Dangerous blood clot
• Communication about medicines
• Specially trained doctors for ICU patients
• Responsiveness of hospital staff

The hospital declined to report in some areas like staff training, nursing staff, tracking risks.

The closest hospitals to get an "A" score were Redlands Community Hospital and Eisenhower Medical Center. Hemet Valley Medical Center got a "C," while Desert Regional and Kaiser Moreno Valley both received a "B."

Loma Linda University Medical Center, both the East Campus and main facility, received a "C."

Hospitals given a B rating by Leapfrog had a 9 percent higher risk of avoidable death than A hospitals. That number jumps to 35 percent in C hospitals and 50 percent higher in D and F hospitals.

Leapfrog says that if you experience a medical emergency, patients should always go to the nearest hospital, no matter the grade.

• SEE ALSO: California's Safest, And Least Safe, Hospitals As Found in Health Report Card: Full List

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone.