The background
The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., on May 1 released its spring hospital grades.
The Leapfrog Group reviewed nearly 3,000 general hospitals across the nation on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections, using a set of measures based on patient-reported perspectives on hospital care.
According to a news release, the Leapfrog Group found signs of improvement since last fall's safety grades, and preventable health care-associated infections showed a drop following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reviewing 15 San Antonio and New Braunfels general hospitals for this spring, the Leapfrog Group presented an A grade to eight local hospitals, including Methodist Hospital Stone Oak and Stone Oak-based North Central Baptist Hospital.
The Leapfrog Group’s spring grades for other San Antonio-area hospitals are as follows:
- Methodist Hospital (South Texas Medical Center): A
- University Health: A
- Methodist Hospital Northeast: A
- Methodist Hospital Texsan: A
- Methodist Hospital Metropolitan: A
- Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital: A
- Baptist Medical Center: B
- Northeast Baptist Hospital: B
- St. Luke's Baptist Hospital: B
- Mission Trail Baptist Hospital: B
- Christus Santa Rosa Health Care-Medical Center: C
- Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills: C
- Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-New Braunfels: C
- Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels: C
- Brooke Army Medical Center: C
A closer look
Compared with other hospitals, North Central Baptist Hospital’s medical staff was reported to do better than average in matters such as preventing infection and accidental cuts and tears, washing hands, and avoiding events that could pose a risk to patients.
North Central Baptist Hospital has received an A grade twice a year—once in the spring, once in the fall—between 2021 and 2023.
Methodist Stone Oak Hospital received an A for the first time since fall 2022 grades were announced. Methodist Stone Oak had received a B during every grading period between 2021 and 2023 except for fall 2022.
According to the release, personnel at Methodist Stone Oak perform better than average at safely administering medication, and preventing blood leakage, post-surgery sepsis infection or blood clots.
