The above graph shows the improvement of Catholic Health hospitals according to Leapfrog results. Catholic Health recently received two of only seven "A" grades presented to hospitals throughout New York state. Grades are based on several factors related to overall quality of care.

As the area leader in health care quality and patient safety, Catholic Health has once again earned the region's highest overall grades in the Leapfrog Group's biannual Hospital Safety Grade Report. Catholic Health also received two of only seven "A" grades that were presented to hospitals throughout New York state. A national leader in health care quality reporting, the Leapfrog Group grades hospitals from "A" to "F" on how well they protect patients from medical errors, infections and injuries.

Catholic Health hospitals achieved the region's highest combined score (see chart right), while individually, four of its hospitals received the area's top grades (see chart below). Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Sisters of Charity Hospital received the only "A" scores, followed by Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus, with the only "B" scores locally. Mount St. Mary's Hospital received a "C" score, as did most other hospitals in the region.

"We strive to provide the safest care and best outcomes in our community and these grades reflect that," said John Kane, senior vice president of Quality and Patient Safety for Catholic Health. "Our approach is to focus on each patient's individual needs, and deliver the type of care that results in the most consistent quality improvements and best possible safety at all our hospitals. We expect to continue to lead the region in quality and safety with improvements at Mount St. Mary's during the next Leapfrog rating period."

The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog funded by leading companies and large purchasers of health care, uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data on patient injuries, medical errors, and infection rates to grade hospitals on their overall ability to keep patients safe from preventable harm. In the latest report, of the 2,632 hospitals that were issued a Hospital Safety Score, 832 earned an "A," 662 earned a "B," 868 earned a "C," 148 earned a "D" and 26 earned an "F."  

"If patients are looking for independent verification of a hospital's quality, the Leapfrog Safety Grade is a reliable and respected source of information using standardized safety measures," Kane continued. "We are proud of this accomplishment and especially grateful to our physicians, nurses, clinical professionals, quality team and support staff, who set the standards for quality, patient-centered care in our community."  

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is calculated by top patient safety experts.

For more information, as well as individual hospital grades and state rankings, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.