May 1st 2024.
According to a recent report released by the nonprofit organization Leapfrog Group on Wednesday, Illinois has dropped two spots to rank 30th in the nation for hospital safety. The report, which is released twice a year, evaluates hospitals based on 22 measures of safety, including hand hygiene, falls and trauma, and death rates among surgical patients. The data for the report is collected from both the federal government and a survey sent to hospitals.
Out of all the hospitals in Illinois, only 22% received an A grade for safety from Leapfrog, a decrease from nearly 25% in the fall. Among the hospitals that earned top marks are University of Chicago Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. Additionally, five Endeavor Health hospitals and six Northwestern Medicine hospitals also received As.
It is worth noting that no Illinois hospital received an F grade this spring, although 15 hospitals did receive D grades. This has sparked debate among hospitals, as those with high ratings often use them to gain an edge over competitors, while those with lower ratings question the methodologies used to judge them.
One of the largest hospital systems in the Chicago area, Advocate Health Care, had four hospitals earn D grades and five earn Cs. In response, Advocate stated that while they believe in transparency and making quality data publicly available, accurately measuring this data can be challenging due to various factors and methodologies. They also reaffirmed their commitment to safety and their ongoing efforts to improve.
In a positive development, three Illinois hospitals have earned straight As since 2012, including University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, and Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital. Dr. Tom Spiegel, the chief quality officer at UChicago Medicine, attributes their continued success to the focus and care of their front-line providers.
However, not all hospitals in Illinois fared well in the report. For-profit hospitals West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial Hospital received D grades, and attempts to reach their current owner, Resilience Healthcare, were unsuccessful. Thorek Memorial and Roseland Community hospitals, both located in Chicago, also received D grades and could not be reached for comment.
Among the other large hospitals in the Chicago area, Loyola University Medical Center maintained its C grade from the fall, while Northwestern Memorial Hospital improved from a C to a B. It is worth noting that different rating organizations often use different methodologies, resulting in varying grades for hospitals. For example, U.S. News & World Report ranks Northwestern Memorial as tied with Rush University Medical Center for the best hospital in the state.
Overall, the hospital safety grade report serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and quality in healthcare. While some hospitals may have room for improvement, the dedication and efforts of front-line providers are crucial in ensuring the safety of patients.
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