Nacogdoches Medical Center Again Earns “A” Grade for Patient Safety

November 15, 2017 - For the fifth consecutive reporting period, Nacogdoches Medical Center, the hospital anchor of NMC Health Network, has been recognized as a top performer by The Leapfrog Group. This national award for patient safety is the most recent accolade received by the organization. Other recent accomplishments include Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Checkmark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers, and The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for both Chest Pain Certification and Total Joint Replacement.

The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score is designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. “Avoidable deaths in hospitals should be the number one concern of our health care leaders. Hospitals, like NMC, that earn an ‘A’ from Leapfrog are leaders in saving lives, and we commend them and urge their continued vigilance,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

According to an analysis by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, a hospital's safety score has life-or-death consequences for patients. Patients at a D hospital have a 50 percent higher risk of avoidable death than patients at an A hospital. The study concluded that more than 33,000 lives could be saved each year if all hospitals had the same performance as those, like NMC, who received an A.

“Every day, and at every level in our organization, we remain highly- focused on creating an environment that embraces safety and quality,” said Dr. Charles Thompson, Chief Medical Officer. “Our staff has worked diligently to implement nationally recognized benchmarks and best practices that have dramatically improved the environment of care.”

“The standardization of the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score allows East Texans to make an informed choice about where they receive medical care,” stated Rita Greenville, Director of Clinical Quality and Resource Management at NMC. “Earning this top grade once again demonstrates the commitment of our staff and physicians to ensure safe, quality care that improves outcomes for our patients.”