NRMC Awarded an ‘A’ for 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes NRMC’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.

“Congratulations to all associates and physicians on this outstanding achievement,” explained Kirk Soileau, Chief Executive Officer of NRMC. “Throughout the hospital, we constantly measure every aspect of patient safety. By doing so, we are able to identify weaknesses and quickly make improvements. Our goal is always to do zero harm. This translates into better clinical outcomes and patient experiences. We’re now performing at or above national benchmarks in patient safety as this ‘A’ score from the Leapfrog Group demonstrates. I want to take this opportunity to thank our associates, board, and physicians for their outstanding commitment to patient safety.”

Over the past five years, NRMC Associates have created a Culture of Safety focusing on a number of key initiatives, such as fall prevention, handwashing protocols for patients and visitors, prevention of catheter- associated urinary tract infections, identification and treatment of sepsis in its earliest stages, and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia to name just a few. The team’s commitment has resulted in a low rate of hospital acquired conditions and infections.

“To be recognized nationally as an ‘A’ hospital is an accomplishment the whole community should take pride in,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ grade are making it a priority to protect patients from preventable medical harm and error. We congratulate hospital leaders, board members, staff, volunteers and clinicians who work so hard to earn this A.”

Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

NRMC was awarded an ‘A’ grade today, when Leapfrog announced grades for the spring 2019 update. To see NRMC’s full grade details, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visithospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

About Natchitoches Regional Medical Center

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center began as a community hospital in 1955 and has grown into a

216-bed healthcare system with 750 Associates and more than 100 active and consulting physicians on its medical staff. The system is comprised of the 96-bed acute care facility, a skilled nursing home, assisted living complex, and an extensive network of clinics throughout the parish. NRMC is an affiliate of Christus Health.