BMH-Golden Triangle Scores At Top Of safety Ratings

PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBUS, Miss., Nov. 2, 2015 –Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle has been awarded an ‘A’ patient safety rating in the Fall 2015 Hospital Safety Score by a national patient safety watchdog group. The latest ‘A’ rating continues the hospital’s ‘Straight A’ safety rating since the safety rating program was first launched by the Leapfrog Group in 2012, placing the hospital in the top five percent of hospitals graded across the United States.

The Leapfrog Group grades more than 2,500 hospitals across the United States for safety twice each year. Hospitals are given a letter grade of ‘A’ through ‘D’ and ‘F’. Of the 33 hospitals in Mississippi submitting data for the fall reporting period, only five received an ‘A’ rating, including Baptist Memorial Health Care affiliated hospitals – Baptist Union County in New Albany and Baptist North Mississippi in Oxford.

The safety score reflects how well the hospital protects patients from preventable medical errors, injuries and infections within the hospital and is calculated based on several core measures, including safe practice measures, surgical care improvement project measures and patient safety indicators.

Also receiving an “A” was Biloxi Regional Medical Center in Biloxi and Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale. There was only one ‘F’ rating in the state – University Hospitals and Health System, University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

“We hold the safety of our patients as a very high standard. Our patients should feel confident that each of our more than 1,000 employees, our physicians and other clinicians consider their safety as one of our top priorities,’ said Baptist Golden Triangle Administrator Paul Cade.

“Continuing our ‘straight A’ designation shows that we have an excellent track record of keeping our patients safe throughout our facility,” Cade added.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national non-profit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel and the Hospital Safety Score calculate scores for hospitals across the nation. While 773 hospitals across the United States earned an ‘A’ grade this fall, 133 earned a ‘D’ and 34 earned an ‘F’.

“Although no hospital is perfect, we urge consumers to put safety first when planning a hospital stay, and we urge hospitals to double down on their commitment to safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “No matter how large or small, no matter what kind of community they serve, all hospitals have the potential to give their patients this high level of safe care.”

With 315 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is the largest regional hospital affiliated with the Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care system. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, who represent almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital, which offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.

The hospital offers a variety of services to the community, including the Baptist Cancer Center-Golden Triangle, Baptist Behavioral Health Care-Golden Triangle for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an emergency room with 24-hour ambulance service, an extensive rehabilitation department, and educational programs. Baptist Golden Triangle employs more than 1,000 health care professionals.