LA PLATA, MD – University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System, has been awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group. This grade is part of a national evaluation by the nonprofit organization, which assesses general hospitals across the United States on their ability to prevent medical errors, injuries, infections, and other harms to patients in their care.
Leapfrog’s grading system, which issues ratings from “A” to “F,” is based on more than 30 specific criteria, including the incidence of various patient safety issues and the effectiveness of hospital systems to prevent them. The grades are updated biannually and are designed to help consumers choose the safest hospital for their care.
Noel Cervino, President and CEO of UM Charles Regional, expressed pride in the hospital’s achievement: “I’m proud of our entire hospital team for their dedication to upholding high standards of safety and constantly looking for ways to further improve both patient and staff safety as well as patient outcomes,” he said. He emphasized that such a high grade reflects the core values of the entire University of Maryland Medical System, which include compassion, discovery, excellence, diversity, and integrity.
Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, also praised the hospital’s commitment: “Everyone who works at UM Charles Regional should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade. It takes complete dedication at every level, and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first,” Binder stated.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is unique as it is the only hospital ratings program that focuses exclusively on hospital safety. It aims to increase awareness among the public about the importance of hospital safety in preventing deaths and injuries. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and its results are available for free to the public.
Further details on UM Charles Regional’s safety grade and tips for patients on staying safe in the hospital can be found on the HospitalSafetyGrade.org website. The Leapfrog Group also maintains a presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and offers updates through its newsletter.
In addition to the “A” grade from Leapfrog, UM Charles Regional has received other accolades. These include the Innovative Hospital Award from Health.com and recognition from the national “Get With the Guidelines” program for its adherence to up-to-date, research-based guidelines in the treatment of stroke and diabetes. These awards underline UM Charles Regional’s ongoing commitment to medical excellence and patient outcomes.
