Mercy earns ‘A’ for patient safety

Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers and Mercy Hospital Fort Smith were among some of the highest performing hospitals in the United States to receive an A grade for reducing errors, infections and accidents that might harm patients.

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigned the grades to the hospitals, and on Wednesday (April 12), the results were announced by The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit patient advocate.

“Patient safety has always been a priority for Mercy, and this latest acknowledgement from The Leapfrog Group is confirmation that our team is meeting our mission of exceptional service and compassionate care,” said Eric Pianalto, president of Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas.

Seven Mercy hospoitals in Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas received an A grade in the semi-annual ratings, providing “the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. healthcare system,” according to a news release.

Hospitals receiving high marks in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, “have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ safety grade.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses publicly-available hospital safety data to assign letter grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice a year. Unity Health White County Medical Center in Searcy, Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden and Magnolia Regional Medical Center in Magnolia were the other Arkansas hospitals to earn an A grade.