WILMINGTON, NC – New Hanover Regional Medical Center has recently been awarded an ‘A’ grade in the fall 2016 update to The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections. This is the sixth consecutive A rating NHRMC has received.
NHRMC was among only 844 U.S. hospitals to receive an A rating of the 2,633 issued a grade.
The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score is designed to give members of the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families.
“We are very proud of our safety record and for receiving this recognition six times in a row,” said Jack Barto, NHRMC president and CEO. “Our physicians and staff maintain a diligent focus on keeping our patients safe, while providing the high-quality, compassionate care our patients expect and deserve.”
The Hospital Safety Score uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a letter grade of A to F representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm. When ranked by percentage of hospitals earning an A, several states stood out for significant improvements over time, including North Carolina, which climbed from a ranking of 19th in the nation in spring of 2013 to 5th in fall of 2016 for hospitals with the top safety grade.
To see NHRMC’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, and to find safety tips for patients and their loved ones, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at
www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.