UC San Diego Health System Awarded “A” for Patient Safety by The Leapfrog Group

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UC San Diego Health System has locations throughout the San Diego region.

On June 6, 2012, UC San Diego Health System was honored with an “A” Hospital Safety Score^SM by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. U.S. hospitals were assigned an A, B, C, D, or F based on safety performance.

“The ‘A’ level award for UC San Diego Health System reflects of our commitment to patient safety, across all locations, from primary care offices to surgical suites,” said Paul Viviano, CEO of UC San Diego Health System. “Patients seek out UC San Diego Health System for our ability to provide superior care for the full spectrum of medical needs including the most serious and rare conditions. This grade demonstrates to patients that we can use the latest technology and research findings in a safe manner. Our patients are in the best possible clinical hands.”

The safety score was calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel using publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections.

“UC San Diego Health System’s Quality Council has continuously pursued the goals of achieving outstanding clinical outcomes and preventing patient harm,” said Angela Scioscia, MD, CMO, UC San Diego Health System. “Through teamwork and a thoughtful, evidenced-based approach to care we have been able to expand resuscitation services, prevent health care associated infections, and improve medication safety.”

To see UC San Diego Health System scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit http://hospitalsafetyscore.org/, the Hospital Safety Score^SM website, which also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.

Calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s nine-member Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score^SM uses 26 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors.

The panel includes: John Birkmeyer (University of Michigan), Ashish Jha (Harvard University), Lucian Leape (Harvard University), Arnold Millstein (Stanford University), Peter Pronovost (Johns Hopkins University), Patrick Romano (University of California, Davis), Sara Singer (Harvard University), Tim Vogus (Vanderbilt University), and Robert Wachter (University of California, San Francisco). 

About The Leapfrog Group

The Leapfrog Group is a national organization using the collective leverage of large purchasers of health care to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey allows purchasers to structure their contracts and purchasing to reward the highest performing hospitals. The Leapfrog Group was founded in November 2000 with support from the Business Roundtable and national funders, and is now independently operated with support from its purchaser and other members.