Data reveals CLABSI, MRSA and CAUTI rates spiked to a 5-year high during COVID-19 pandemic
Atlanta, GA (May 8, 2023) – The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit representing hundreds of the nation’s most influential employers and purchasers of health care, driven in Georgia by Georgia Watch, announced the new spring 2023 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Hospitals earn an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” Hospital Safety Grade reflecting how well they protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. These preventable errors kill an estimated 250,000 Americans every year and harm millions more.
For the first time data in Hospital Safety Grades incorporate hospital performance during the height of the pandemic, 2020-2022, and it suggests the average risk of three of the most harmful healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)—including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)— spiked to a 5-year high in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Georgia, 81 hospitals were graded, and 19 earned an “A,” 20 earned a “B,” 32 a “C,” and 7 earned a “D.”
“With the increase in hospital infections during COVID-19, we continue our efforts to encourage Georgia hospitals to make patient safety a top priority” said Natasha Taylor, Senior Director of Policy and Access at Georgia Watch. “The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades offer crucial information to help Georgia consumers make informed decisions about their healthcare. As a Regional Leader, we encourage hospitals in the Metro Atlanta region to strive for improved patient safety. We appreciate those Georgia hospitals who are prioritizing patient safety. Through our reporting of this data, we hope to reinforce the critical importance of this work.”
“In light of the alarming findings on the increase in healthcare-associated infections, we need the full commitment of hospital leadership to ensure patient safety is a priority. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly strained hospitals and their resources, and we now have the data to show the damage it caused,” said Leah Binder, CEO and president of The Leapfrog Group. “Despite the pandemic, several hospitals in this community remained steadfast in their commitment to patient safety, and we congratulate those who achieved high grades.”
The Leapfrog Group has a more than 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the U.S., based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. Updated twice each year, in the spring and the fall, the grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.
For more information about the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, as well as individual hospital grades and state rankings, please visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.
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About Georgia Watch
Founded in 2002, Georgia Watch is a statewide, non-profit consumer advocacy organization working to inform and protect Georgia consumers on matters that significantly impact their quality of life, including the effects of predatory business practices, the high cost of utilities and healthcare, and restricted access to the civil justice system.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.