Silver Cross Earns ‘A’ Grade for Patient Safety in Fall 2016 Hospital Safety Score

Silver Cross Hospital has again been recognized for its dedication to patient safety by being awarded an “A” grade in the Fall 2016 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Only 45 out of 113 hospitals in Illinois received an “A” and Silver Cross is the only hospital in Will County to do so. This is the 4th time in a row Silver Cross has received a Hospital Safety Score of an “A.”

This A grade is one of the most meaningful honors a hospital can achieve, and one of the most valuable indicators for patients looking for a safe place to receive care. The Hospital Safety Score is the gold standard rating for patient safety, compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading patient safety experts and administered by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog. The first and only hospital safety rating to be peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety, the Score is free to the public and designed to give consumers information they can use to protect themselves and their families when facing a hospital stay.

“At Silver Cross, we see it is part of our mission and commitment to deliver safe, high quality care,” said Paul Pawlak, President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital. “Patients can rest assured when they come to Silver Cross, they are receiving care at a hospital that has higher survival rates, less complications, and a safe environment.”

“Protecting patients from harm is the most important charge for any hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We recognize and appreciate ‘A’ hospitals including Silver Cross in their vigilance and continued dedication to keeping patients safe.”

Developed under the guidance of Leapfrog’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Of the 2,633 hospitals evaluated, 844 earned an “A,” 658 earned a “B,” 954 earned a “C,” 157 earned a “D” and 20 earned an “F.”

To see Silver Cross Hospital’s full score, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visitwww.hospitalsafetyscore.org or follow The Hospital Safety Score on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Hospital Safety Score mobile app for Apple and Android devices.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections