Compared to previous report, Michigan hospitals less safe

Over 40 percent of Michigan hospitals score less than “B” grade

Novi, Michigan, October 28, 2015 – The Economic Alliance for Michigan (EAM) announced today the release of the Fall 2015 Hospital Safety Scores, published by patient safety nonprofit, The Leapfrog Group. Used by patients across the country to chooser a safer facility for care, the A, B, C, D, and F letter grades were assigned to 2,531 U.S. general hospitals in the latest update. On average, the latest update shows uneven progress on patient safety, but highlights those hospitals taking focused steps to refine safety protocols, improve outcomes, and consistently achieve safer care.

In Michigan, grades were assigned to 80 hospitals with 19 receiving an A, the highest letter grade.  This is down from the Spring 2015 Hospital Safety Scores when Michigan had 24 facilities with an A grade.  More alarming is the fact that 3 hospitals received an F in Fall 2015.

“Hospital transparency is essential in providing the safest care for consumers. We encourage high scoring hospitals to continue making strides for their community and we hope those who scored poorly will see this report as a wake-up call and start improving,” said Bret Jackson, president, EAM. “For how much health care costs, to see a downslide in grades is disturbing.”

Five Michigan hospitals have received “Straight As” since the inception of the Score in 2012. Those hospitals receiving an A since 2012 in Michigan are Allegiance Health in Jackson, Beaumont Hospital in Troy, DMC Huron Valley-Sinai in Commerce Township, St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia and University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Care in Ann Arbor. A list of all “A” hospitals in the Fall 2015 report can be found on the EAM website, www.eamonline.org.

“No matter how large or small, no matter what kind of community they serve, all hospitals have the potential to give their patients this high level of safe care,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We are excited by the success of your community’s hospitals and look forward to continuing our work together in providing consumers with a safer health care experience.

The Hospital Safety Score assigns A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. For more information about the Hospital Safety Score or to view the list of state rankings, please visit http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. To learn how employers are footing the bill for hospital errors, visit Leapfrog’s Cost Calculator. Journalists interested in scheduling an interview should contact LeapfrogMediaGroup@sternstrategy.com.

Fall 2015 “A” Hospitals in Michigan

Allegiance Health in Jackson

Beaumont Hospital in Troy

Community Health Center of Branch County in Coldwater

Detroit Receiving Hospital in Detroit

Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain

Huron Valley-Sinai in Commerce Township

Lake Huron Medical Center in Port Huron

McLaren – Lapeer Region in Lapeer

McLaren – Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant

Mercy Health Hackley Campus in Muskegon

Mercy Health St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids

Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland

Providence Hospital in Southfield

Providence Park Hospital in Novi

Spectrum Health in Big Rapids

St. John Hospital in Detroit

St. John River District Hospital in East China

St. Mary Mercy in Livonia

University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor