Cary Earns Fourth ‘A’ in a Row from Leapfrog Group
Cary Medical Center has once again been nationally recognized with an ‘A’ for the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. This is the fourth consecutive time that Cary has achieved the highest grade joining only five Maine hospitals to accomplish this consistently high mark. Cary has earned an ‘A’ Grade every year but one since Leapfrog instituted a letter grade in 2012 to measure the nation’s hospitals for their patient safety efforts – 16 in total. Cary is one of only 84 of the nation’s 2600 general hospitals participating in the survey to have earned such distinction and one of only three in Maine.
Kris Doody, RN and Cary’s Chief Executive Officer praised the efforts of hospital staff for their consistent high-level performance. “This has been a very difficult year for all of us in healthcare’, said Doody who has been Cary’s CEO for more than two decades. “The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged hospitals to give their best effort in protecting patients, families and staff. The fact that Cary has received this recognition for the fourth year in a row under such conditions speaks to the dedication and team effort so much a part of our culture.”
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.
“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Cary Medical Center. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”
Developed under the guidance of a national panel expert, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
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 Cary Medical Center
Founded in 1924, Cary Medical Center is a general acute care hospital in Caribou, Maine. The hospital is the City of Caribou’s largest employer with a staff of more than 400. Recognized for its family approach to care the hospital is among the nation’s top performing rural hospitals. The hospital has a unique relationship with rural Veterans being the first in the nation to establish a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic on a private hospital campus. Cary has also been named among America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetric Care and Emergency Care by Women Certified.
