RWJ University Hospital, Trinitas Regional Get 'C' Grades

UNION COUNTY, NJ —Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth both receive a C grade in hospital safety in the new Fall 2018 ratings released Thursday.

Both Union County hospitals also received the C grade this past spring. Nearby Overlook Medical Center in Summit received an 'A' grade.

The Leapfrog Group, which released the report, explains that its rating system is focused entirely on errors, accidents, injuries and infections. The hospital safety grades are released by the nonprofit group twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, Rahway

Breaking down the ratings:

• Infections: The hospital performed above average for surgical site infection after colon surgery. It performed below average for MRSA infections, infection in the blood, infection in the urinary tract, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection.
• Problems with Surgery: The hospital performed above average for dangerous object left in patient's body, and surgical wound splits open. It performed below average for dangerous blood clot, accidental cuts and tears, death from serious treatable complications, collapsed lung, and serious breathing problem.
• Practices to Prevent Errors: The hospital performed above average for doctors order medications through a computer, safe medication administration, hand-washing, and communication about medicines. It performed below average for communication about discharge.
• Safety Problems: The hospital performed above average for dangerous bed sores, air or gas bubble in the blood, track and reduce risks to patients and patient falls.
• Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff: The hospital performed above average for effective leadership to prevent errors, enough qualified nurses, and , communication with doctors, and communication with nurses. It performed below average for specially trained doctors care for ICU patients, and responsiveness of hospital staff.

Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth

Breaking down the ratings:

• Infections: The hospital performed above average for MRSA infections, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection. It performed below average for Infection in the blood, Infection in the urinary tract and surgical site infection after colon surgery.
• Problems with Surgery: The hospital performed above average for dangerous object left in patient's body, surgical wound splits open, collapsed lung, dangerous blood clot and accidental cuts and tears. It performed below average for death from serious treatable complications, and serious breathing problem
• Practices to Prevent Errors: The hospital performed above average for doctors order medications through a computer, safe medication administration, and handshaking. It performed below average for communication about medicines and communication about discharge.
• Safety Problems: The hospital performed above average for dangerous bed sores, air or gas bubble in the blood, and patient falls. It scored below average for track and reduce risks to patients.
• Doctors, Nurses and Hospital Staff: The hospital performed above average for effective leadership to prevent errors, enough qualified nurses, and specially trained doctors care for ICU patients. It performed below average for communication with doctors, communication with nurses and responsiveness of hospital staff.

The A grades accounted for 56 percent of the state's hospitals - the highest percentage in the country - and a 23 percent increase from the spring rankings.

Nearby hospitals including Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick all received a B grade.

A total of 16 New Jersey hospitals received a B, while 11 received a C, according to the rankings. One hospital actually got an F, and another got a D.

Click here to see the full list of New Jersey hospitals and how they ranked.

(Image via Google Maps: RWJ University Hospital Rahway)

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