Caldwell, ID – West Valley Medical Center was the only hospital in Idaho to be awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group. This independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits published its Hospital Safety ScoreSM of U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, injuries accidents, and infections. More than 2,600 hospitals were included in the national scoring and nine hospitals in Idaho were scored; West Valley Medical Center was the only hospital to earn an “A” grade, and did so for the second time this year.
“We are very pleased to once again earn the highest grade in Idaho from this nationally recognized group; it affirms our dedication to keeping patients safe and improving their health,” says Julie Taylor, chief executive officer at West Valley Medical Center. “I congratulate and thank our physicians and staff for creating a safe and healing environment for patients who trust us with their healthcare.”
Several initiatives contribute to the high-level of patient safety at West Valley Medical Center, including a multidisciplinary safety committee. Investments in technologies like computerized medication dispensing further ensures safety. This computerized system scans bar coded bracelets worn by every hospitalized patient on their wrist. It helps the nursing staff to make sure that the right medication at the right dosage is given to the right patient – every time.
“Hospitals were the first to provide quality data for public reporting, and have been doing so for more than a decade,” says Cheri Samuels, director of quality and risk at West Valley Medical Center. “We believe that hospitals should be transparent with their quality and safety information so that communities know that efforts are being made to improve the quality and safety of patient care.”
The Hospital Safety Score was compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is designed to give the public information they can use to educate themselves and their families. Calculated in collaboration with The Leapfrog Group’s nine-member Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 26 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors.
“Hospitals like this that earn an A have demonstrated their commitment to their patients and their community,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I congratulate West Valley Medical Center for its safety excellence, and look forward to the day when all hospitals will match this standard.”
To see West Valley’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org, which also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay. People can also check their local hospital’s score on the free mobile app, available at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.