Recognizes Hospitals for Their Achievement in Providing the Highest Quality Care in America

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sixty-five hospitals have earned The Leapfrog Group's annual "Top Hospital" designation, equaling 2010's record-setting total. The "Top Hospital" designation, which is the most competitive national hospital quality award in the country, recognizes hospitals that deliver the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures like heart bypass surgery, and reducing hospital readmissions for patients being treated for conditions like pneumonia and heart attack. 

For a complete list of 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospitals click here.

While numerous agencies and organizations collect and publicize hospital quality data, the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, now in its eleventh year, is the toughest standard-bearer and provides the most complete picture of a hospital's quality and safety. The survey focuses on three critical areas of hospital care: (1) how patients fare, (2) resources used to care for patients, and (3) management practices that promote safety and quality. In each of the three areas, Leapfrog asks hospitals to report on nationally standardized measures so healthcare consumers can compare hospitals in their community and across the country.

"Employers and other large healthcare benefits purchasers look to The Leapfrog Group to identify high- performing hospitals," said Keith Reissaus, Leapfrog Board Chair and vice president of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Inc.  "Leapfrog's members and supporters believe that the challenges for American healthcare go far beyond just keeping costs down. It's about making certain that patients get the right care at the right time; that value is an equal part of the equation."

Leapfrog's CEO Leah Binder added, "Nearly a fourth of America's hospitals have committed themselves to Leapfrog's exceptionally high level of transparency and accountability—a sign that the hospital industry is increasingly transparent and committed to earning the public trust."

University and other teaching hospitals, children's hospitals, and community hospitals in rural, suburban, and urban settings were all represented in the 2011 rankings.  A complete list of 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospitals and the survey results for all participating hospitals are posted on a website at www.leapfroggroup.org. The site is open to patients and families, the public, and employers and other purchasers of healthcare.

The hospitals were honored at the Leapfrog Group's 2011 annual meeting in Washington on December 6th, where the group celebrated the five-year anniversary of its ground-breaking Never Events policy. The 2011 Top Hospital list is culled from a field of nearly 1200 hospitals that voluntarily and publicly report their performance by participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage founded more than a decade ago to work for improvements in healthcare safety, quality, and affordability.  Initially organized by the Business Roundtable, it is now an independent organization working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.  The Leapfrog Hospital Survey is the only voluntary effort of its kind.