N E W S R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2017
Saratoga Hospital Earns an A for Patient Safety
One of Just Seven Hospitals Statewide to Receive Highest Grade
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, November 8, 2017—Saratoga Hospital is one of just seven hospitals in New York state—and the only facility in the Capital Region—to receive an A for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group for fall 2017. It is Saratoga Hospital’s fourth A in a row.
A national nonprofit healthcare ratings organization, The Leapfrog Group assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are assigned twice each year. For fall 2017, Saratoga Hospital is one of 832 nationwide awarded an “A” for keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the U.S.
Mary Jo LaPosta, senior vice president of patient care and organizational excellence and chief nursing officer at Saratoga Hospital, attributes the hospital’s consistent, strong performance to an organization-wide commitment to patient care and safety.
“Patient safety is central to everything we do—every personal interaction, every policy and every procedure,” she said. “Our team routinely puts patient safety first, and that commitment is reflected in these safety scores and, more importantly, in our patient outcomes.”
The hospital made a significant investment in patient safety as part of a recent $34 million renovation and expansion, including 10 state-of-the-art operating suites and a new intensive care unit equipped with the latest infection control technology. The hospital also recently installed “smart” IV pumps in all facilities as added protection against medication errors.
Both the pumps and the major renovation were made possible with strong fundraising support from the community. According to Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO, that support is an important factor in the hospital’s success.
“This is a powerful reminder of what’s possible with a strong partnership between a hospital and its community,” Calbone said. “Everyone who contributed to those campaigns played a role in enhancing patient care and safety —and in improving the health of our community.”
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About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. With a medical staff of more than 450 providers, the hospital offers care in a broad range of medical specialties at more than 20 locations including its Wilton campus and the Saratoga Medical Park at Malta. The Saratoga Hospital Medical Group ensures easy access to services that can have the greatest impact on both individual and community health. In keeping with its emphasis on quality, Saratoga Hospital was the first in the Capital Region to earn Magnet designation for nursing excellence. On Jan. 1, 2017, Saratoga Hospital finalized its affiliation with Albany Medical Center, joining Columbia Memorial Health in creating a regionally integrated, locally governed healthcare system. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.
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 collects and transparently reports hospital 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.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Amy Raimo
518-583-8789
araimo@saratogahospital.org