Patient safety honor for Kaiser Permanente Redwood City

– Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center has again received the top score of “A” by the Leapfrog Group in its annual safety report, which examined and graded more than 2,600 hospitals throughout the United States. Fifteen other Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California also received A grades.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits, released its Hospital Safety Grades after examining publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors and infections at U.S. hospitals, which were then assigned A, B, C, D, or F grades for their safety records.

“These safety scores highlight the high-quality health care that Kaiser Permanente provides to the Redwood City and the mid-Peninsula community,” said Sheila Gilson, RN and hospital executive. “This continued recognition is an honor, and it reflects the skill and dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff on behalf of our patients.”

Other Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California with “A” scores were: Antioch, Fremont, Fresno, Roseville, Sacramento, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, South San Francisco, Vacaville, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Manteca, Modesto, Oakland, and San Jose received a “B” score.

“Our physicians and staff use advanced technology — with the highest safety standards — while delivering exceptional care with warmth and compassion,” said Dr. William Firtch, Physician-in-Chief, Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center, “Receiving high marks from The Leapfrog Group is a testament to Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to quality health care and patient safety.”

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage founded in 2000 to work for improvements in health care safety, quality and affordability. It is an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers. The Hospital Safety Grade, considered the gold standard for rating patient safety in the U.S., is an analysis based on 28 variables, including rates of infections, medication mix-ups and health care-acquired injuries. It uses data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Hospital Association, and its own Leapfrog survey.

To see all hospital scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org, the Hospital Safety Score website, which also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.