Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital both received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Gradefor fall 2021. This national distinction recognizes the two hospitals for achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.
“We are honored to be recognized by Leapfrog for the commitment of our staff and physicians in protecting the safety of all patients in our care,” said Ron Werft, president/CEO of Cottage Health. “Every day we strive to serve our community with excellence, integrity and compassion.”
“Earning the ‘A’ grade means that we have met very rigorous safety measures. It is a reflection of the tremendous work of our entire organization,” said Dr. Babji Mesipam, chief medical quality officer for Cottage Health. “We are committed to continuing the work needed to keep our patients safe.”
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns a grade of A, B, C, D or F to general hospitals across the country based on some 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, of which this community should be extremely proud,” said Leah Binder, president/CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital for their commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times.”
To see the full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.HospitalSafetyGrade.org.