Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville earns top mark for patient safety

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville earned an ‘A’ in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, an achievement that recognizes health care systems that display an outstanding commitment to patient safety. This marks the seventh time in a row Baptist Jacksonville has received an ‘A’ for patient safety. Baptist Jacksonville joins the top third of over 2,600 evaluated hospitals.

“Our patients and their families rely on us to deliver safe, high-quality care and help them live their healthiest lives. We are honored to receive top marks for the efforts of our exceptional team members,” said Michael A. Mayo, FACHE, hospital president of Baptist Jacksonville.

Developed under the guidance of a national panel of experts, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign an ‘A-F’ letter grade to acute-care hospitals across the United States. The grade incorporates metrics such as infection, error and accident rates to assess health systems for patient safety, helping consumers and their families make the safest choice for care possible.

Baptist Beaches, Baptist Nassau and Baptist South also received ‘A’ ratings, making Baptist Health a ‘straight A’ system for the second consecutive time.

To ensure all patients remain protected throughout their healing process, several enhanced safety measures were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. From setting up COVID-19 positive isolation units to using improved sanitation and additional personal protective equipment, Baptist Health’s safety initiatives helped assure patients and their families that the health system was ready to provide safe, comprehensive care to the community, despite the pandemic.

“As we faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19, our system remained committed to the highest level of patient safety,” said David Rice, MD, senior vice president, chief medical officer and chief quality officer for Baptist Health. “Our dedication to providing consistent, cutting-edge care using all available protective measures will continue to reassure patients that their safety comes before all else.”

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality and safety of American health care. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.