Columbia Hospitals Shine Bright with A Grading in Safety!
Columbia, South Carolina is buzzing with good news as two local hospitals have just received A grades in the latest hospital safety rankings. That’s right! Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge and Prisma Health Baptist have again struck gold in the fall safety grades released by the Leapfrog Group, a forward-thinking medical watchdog that’s been keeping an eye on hospitals since 2012.
These rankings, released twice a year in the spring and fall, help provide transparency about the safety efforts in the U.S. healthcare system. They focus on things like errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. And for the past few years, our Midlands hospitals have consistently shown that they prioritize patient safety.
Recognition of Excellence
This time around, both Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge and Prisma Health Baptist retained their A grades from spring. Not only that, but their neighboring hospital, Prisma Health Tuomey, achieved an upgrade from a B to an impressive A. That’s something to cheer about!
Here’s a quick snapshot of how Columbia’s hospitals scored this season:
- Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge: A (same as spring)
- Prisma Health Baptist: A (same as spring)
- Lexington Medical Center: B (same as spring)
- Prisma Health Richland: B (same as spring)
- MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast: C (same as spring, formerly Providence Health Northeast)
- MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown: C (same as spring, formerly Providence Health)
More A’s and a Return!
Additionally, three more hospitals from the Midlands flaunted A grades, and one hospital made a comeback into the rankings:
- MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center: A (same as spring)
- McCleod Health Clarendon: A (same as spring)
- Prisma Health Tuomey: A (upgraded from B)
- Newberry County Memorial Hospital: B (same as spring)
- MUSC Health Orangeburg: C (returned to rankings after missing spring)
Out of 52 ranked hospitals in South Carolina, 21 secured an A grade, which is just as many as in the spring. Notably, no hospitals in the Palmetto State scored an F this time, which is a relief!
D Grades on the Rise
However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Two hospitals were handed D grades—Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill and Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital—for the second consecutive grading period. Although our state is still doing well comparatively, South Carolina slightly slipped in national rankings, coming in at 10th place, tied with Colorado.
Although South Carolina can be proud of its efforts, we can’t forget there’s still room for improvement. The national statistics reveal that approximately 250,000 lives are lost each year due to hospital-related mistakes, emphasizing the need for safety at every facility.
What the Leapfrog Group has to Say
The Leapfrog Group stresses that “it’s up to everyone to make sure that patient safety is the No. 1 priority” at hospitals across the nation. They suggest that while no one should ever refuse care in emergencies based on a hospital’s safety grade, it’s smart to discuss with your doctor about the best hospitals for non-emergency procedures.
The Bottom Line
The Leapfrog Group rates hospitals using 22 different measures highlighting process, structure, and outcomes of care. They emphasize the importance of practices, including proper communication between staff and patients and maintaining high hygiene standards to drive down the risk of mistakes.
With ongoing improvements in safety and precautions, Columbia is undoubtedly making strides in providing better healthcare for its residents. Let’s continue supporting our local hospitals for a safer, healthier future!
