New Study Grades Norwood Hospital

Norwood Hospital received a B in a new 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.

The B grade was a decrease for Norwood Hospital, which received an A for the three previous years.

Hospitals in the area that received an A included South Shore Hospital, Faulkner Hospital, Carney Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, and Brockton Hospital.

Milton Hospital, Beth Israel Plymouth, Brigham And Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Tufts Medical Center were also awarded a B.

Falmouth Hospital received a C from the group.

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 bedsores and medical staff teamwork to minimize errors.