Cartersville Hospital Ranks Above Average in Patient Safety

By Renee Schiavone (Patch Staff)

Cartersville Medical Center rated above average for patient safety, according to a survey published Wednesday by a nonprofit healthcare watchdog.

The Washington, D.C.-based Leapfrog Group’s annual Hospital Safety Score analyzed medical facilities throughout the nation to ascertain which ones ranked best and least in procedures intended to ensure that patients’ well-being is not compromised while under the care of healthcare professionals.

According to the survey, Cartersville Medical Center scored a B in its ranking. You can view the hospital’s complete report here.

How do area hospitals stack up? Redmond Regional Medical Center, Gordon Hospital, WellStar Paulding Hospital and Floyd Medical Center all earned A’s while Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton earned a C.

The Leapfrog Group, an employer-backed organization focused on healthcare quality, used various criteria to calculate hospitals’ grades, examining whether physicians and nurses took steps to optimize safety during surgeries, whether patients received adequate post-op care, whether staffing levels were appropriate to prevent threats to patients’ health and whether facilities had clearly defined protocols to protect patients.

Some of the sub-categories rated hospitals on the use of antibiotics to prevent infections and steps to prevent blood clots, as well as the maintenance of surgical wounds, prevention of bed sores and medical staff teamwork to minimize errors.

– By City News Service.

Image via Shutterstock