How Does Southern Ocean Medical Center Rank In Safety?

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Many New Jersey hospitals received top marks, while others did not do so well, according to the Spring 2022 Hospital Safety Grades report released Tuesday by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit health care watchdog group.

The latest ratings reflect care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Leapfrog Group said its and other groups' research showed the pandemic reversed years of progress in patient safety.

In New Jersey, 30 hospitals received an "A" grade, 16 got a "B," 19 earned a "C" and four received a "D."

Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin was given a "C."

Rankings are based on more than 30 measures of patient safety. Leapfrog says its hospital rating system is the only one in the country focusing solely on a hospital's ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

Included in the 30 are five that research has shown to directly affect patient outcomes, but can be improved with greater communication between caregivers and patients — the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, infections from colon surgery, MRSA (Staphylococcus) blood laboratory-identified events and facility-wide inpatient diarrhea events.

When there's communication about medications, for example, that can lead to fewer hospitalizations for conditions such as sepsis and blood clots, fewer complications and decreases in the incidence of respiratory failure, Leapfrog said.

Read More: New Jersey Hospital Safety Grades 2022: The Best And Worst

Southern Ocean Medical Center struggled with problems with surgery and safety problems, according to Leapfrog's breakdown.

Leapfrog also noted issues with communication.

However, the hospital ranked highly when it came to effective leadership, qualified nurses and specially trained doctors. It also ranked highly in practices to prevent errors, such as safe medication administration, handwashing and staff working together.

You can see the full breakdown of Southern Ocean Medical Center's ranking here.