Two hospitals within the Northwell health system, Northwell’s Phelps Hospital and Northern Westchester Hospital, have made significant strides in upholding patient safety, earning the highest patient safety grades from Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization. Leapfrog Group conducts an in-depth analysis of health systems in the United States, scrutinizing safety, quality, and transparency. In an applaudable feat, Northern Westchester Hospital also earned the “Straight A” hospital grade, a rating bestowed on hospitals that have achieved an A rating in no less than five consecutive cycles of Hospital Safety Grades. This remarkable accomplishment is only shared by a mere 12% of all United States hospitals.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades takes into consideration over 3,000 acute-care hospitals and weighs them twice a year against a comprehensive set of criteria covering clinical processes, the structure of the healthcare institution, and the health outcomes of patients across 22 categories. Crucial outcomes like infection prevention are key, accounting for half of the overall grading. New York State didn’t fare as well as these two exemplary institutions and is ranked 31st in the percentage of hospitals with an A-grade, with its score below the national average at 25%. This starkly contrasted with Northwell hospitals, out of which 73% garnered A ratings.
Jill Kalman, MD, a Chief Medical Officer at Northwell, underscores that the quality and safety of patient care are their utmost priorities. During the Patient Experience Week, the organization lauds its team members for their dedication to delivering empathetic and expert care to each patient. The outstanding work demonstrated by these A-rated Northwell hospitals reflects the daily, resolute pursuit of excellence across the entire Northwell system.
The biannual safety grading system instituted by Leapfrog assigns grades from A to F to all hospitals. The grading is indicative of a hospital’s ability to safeguard patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Leah Binder, president, and CEO of Leapfrog Group, emphasizing the importance of patient safety, states that while all hospitals should indeed take pride in earning an A, continuous pursuit of better patient safety practices should always be at the forefront.
Nine additional Northwell hospitals succeeded in obtaining Leapfrog’s highest rating. Notably, in Leapfrog’s report card issued in November 2024, Northwell also boasted eleven A-graded hospitals.