Jefferson Health Earns Top Grades Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

As concern continues to grow over new coronavirus and how long the pandemic will be a factor, a health system in South Jersey has earned a top grade across the board from a national health watchdog.

Jefferson Health’s three hospitals in New Jersey each earned an “A” in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing achievements in providing safer health care. The health system’s three hospitals are in Cherry Hill, Stratford and Washington Township.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to healthcare quality and safety; the Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months, assessing how well hospitals prevent medical errors and other harm to patients.

“At a time when healthcare organizations are more vital than ever, we are especially honored to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to safety,” Jefferson Health Interim President Brian Sweeney said. “It is especially gratifying to have all three of our acute care hospitals reach this level of achievement. We are proud of our physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff who have deployed best practice systems and processes to achieve stellar clinical outcomes for patients in our community.”

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“As the nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and healthcare workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” Leapfrog President/CEO Leah Binder said. “They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.”

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute care hospitals twice per year.

The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

A breakdown of Jefferson Cherry Hill’s grade can be found here.

A breakdown of Jefferson Stratford’s grade can be found here.

A breakdown of Jefferson Washington Township’s grade can be found here.

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know