UH Samaritan Medical Center Earns Top Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

ASHLAND, Ohio- University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, together with UH Cleveland, Parma and St. John medical centers earned an "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, a prestigious national honor recognizing hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that demonstrate the highest standards in patient safety and quality care.

This distinction showcases the relentless focus on Zero Harm initiatives championed by University Hospitals to protect patients and deliver high-quality care.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States.

"Disciplined management and shared accountability is the foundation of our Zero Harm journey," said Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, Chief Quality & Clinical Transformation Officer and Veale Distinguished Chair in Leadership and Clinical Transformation. "I am proud of how our teams united to reduce infections, improve outcomes, and enhance the safety of every patient in our care."

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns a letter grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

"This honor speaks to the commitment of our caregivers who put patients first," said Sylvia Radziszewski, RRT, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, UH Samaritan Medical Center. "Together, we've built a culture where accountability and openness push us to keep improving and deliver exceptional care, it is the UH Samaritan "special sauce."

Leapfrog's publicly available hospital grades are intended as a tool to empower patients. UH Samaritan Medical Center closely monitors quality measures like hospital-acquired infections and readmission rates. All caregivers, including nurses and physicians, are encouraged to actively advocate for their patients, which leads to a culture of shared responsibility and accountability.

The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. To see full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.