We Did It “A”gain! The Only Leapfrog A-Rated Hospitals for Patient Safety on the Gulf Coast
GULF COAST, MISSISSIPPI, November 18, 2021 – The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to four of the safest hospitals in the nation, according to the Fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades released Thursday. Singing River Gulfport Hospital, Singing River Ocean Springs Hospital, Singing River Pascagoula Hospital, and Ochsner Medical Center – Hancock, are the only hospitals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to be awarded an “A” in patient safety by The Leapfrog Group.
The four A-rated hospitals are all operated through the strategic partnership of Singing River Health System and Ochsner Health. The Leapfrog “A” Hospital Safety Grade is a national distinction recognizing Singing River and Ochsner for their achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.
“This ‘A’ rating is reflective of the hard work and relentless dedication of our team members to our core value of “Quality is in our DNA.” It is a measurable reflection of their commitment to excellence,” said Lee Bond, CEO of Singing River Health System. “These awards speak to the heart and soul of our people who carry out our Mission to Improve Health and Save Lives every day, and a true testament to our partnership with Ochsner and how together we will provide greater access to safe, high-quality care to the people of South Mississippi and surrounding areas.”
Lee Bond, Chief Executive Officer, Singing River Health System
“We couldn’t be more proud that Ochsner Hancock along with our partners at Singing River continue to be considered the safest hospitals on the Coast,” said Wilson Thomas, CEO of Ochsner Medical Center- Hancock. “We all work incredibly hard provide the safest and most patient-centered care possible. We often get asked that if the patient were our parent or our child, where would we want them to receive care. Every patient should consider an “A” hospital as their number one priority when making healthcare decisions.”
Wilson Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner Medical Center- Hancock
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to hospitals across the country based on more than thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only rating program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care, becoming the gold standard measure of patient safety, cited in MSNBC, The New York Times, and AARP The Magazine.
“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, of which this community should be extremely proud,” said Leah Binder, president, and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of Singing River Health System in partnership with Ochsner Health for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times.”
Leah Binder, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Leapfrog Group
The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and results are free to the public. To view Singing River and Ochsner’s full grade details along with other healthcare providers in your area, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.
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 forward in the quality and safety of American health care. 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.
About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventative screenings, health and wellness resources, and partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. Ochsner Health healed more than 876,000 people from across the globe in 2019, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana’s leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient, and effective. Ochsner’s team of more than 26,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. To learn more about Ochsner Health, please visit www.ochsner.org. To transform your health, please visit www.ochsner.org/healthyyou.
About Singing River Health System
Singing River Health System is the Mission-Driven, community-based, not-for-profit health care provider for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. As one of South Mississippi’s largest employers, the system offers award-winning, comprehensive care for every age and stage. Singing River is committed to the highest quality standards and is an accredited Blue Cross Blue Shield Center of Excellence and rated #1 in the Market for Patient Safety and Overall Medical Excellence by CareChex.
Singing River Health System provides both critical and acute health services at each of their hospitals in Gulfport, Ocean Springs, and Pascagoula. Singing River offers charitable assistance and leads numerous educational and community outreach programs. Singing River strengthens the local economy by recruiting more than 300 of the very best physicians and other professionals to its community while providing adequate jobs, wages, and benefits to approximately 3,400 employees and their families. Through this dedication, Singing River improves the health of its community while making it a better place to live and work. Learn more at SingingRiverHealthSystem.com and stay in tune with the latest Singing River excitement by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Vimeo.