Keck Hospital of USC is one of 844 hospitals nationwide to receive an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog, during the Fall 2016 release of Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The grade places Keck Hospital of USC among the safest hospitals in the United States.

“Our ‘A’ hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group reflects the daily efforts of our physicians and staff, who make patient safety and well-being a top priority,” said Rod Hanners, CEO for Keck Medical Center of USC and COO of Keck Medicine of USC. “We are thrilled that our efforts are being recognized as we continue our commitment in delivering exceptional patient experience.”

Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data, thus providing the most complete picture of patient safety, to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. Grades are calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

Keck Hospital’s “A” grade is the result of strict adherence to comprehensive quality and safety programs, as well as a number of successful initiatives aimed at eliminating patient harm and achieving high reliability. The hospital uses two Xenex robots as an additional measure against hospital-acquired infections. The “Catch a Falling Star” program reduced the number of patient falls with harm by almost half. In 2015, Keck Hospital was recognized by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for outstanding improvements in performance in the AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators, as well as being designated a Center of Excellence by over 70 organizations.

“Quality and safety in health care are not static conditions. Excellence requires a continuous daily commitment from the entire staff. I am proud of all of our teams and their accomplishments,” said Stephanie Hall, MD, chief medical officer of Keck Medicine. “Keck Hospital remains committed to delivering the safest and highest quality care using cutting-edge technology, evidence based research and a culture of accountability.”

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Keck Medical Center among the Top 20 hospitals in the United States in ophthalmology, urology and cancer care, and among the Top 50 hospitals for geriatric care, orthopaedic care, nephrology and cardiology.

To see Keck Hospital’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.com.

By Mary Dacuma