Pleasanton Hospital Receives "C" in Hospital Safety Grade

PLEASANTON, CA — A Tri-Valley 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.

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 Tri-Valley, the ValleyCare Health System in Pleasanton 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."

Nearby Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley and Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek all received a "C" score. San Ramon Regional Medical Center earned a "B" score. The closest hospital to get an "A" score was Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont.

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.

ValleyCare has not been reached for comment.

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

By Renee Schiavone

Photo via Shutterstock