For the second year in a row, Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge has been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, demonstrating a continued commitment to meeting the nation’s toughest standards for safety and quality.
Only 5 percent of hospitals in the U.S. achieve this elite recognition, and Baptist Parkridge is one of only two hospitals in South Carolina to be honored more than once in the past decade.
Ashley Brown, manager of Quality and Reliability, Baptist Parkridge, said the honor “validates the hard work done by all team members every day” at the Midlands hospital.
“Baptist Parkridge strives for excellence and puts patient safety at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “By focusing on daily metrics, we are able to ensure high quality and efficient care is provided to all of our patients.”
“It is exciting to be honored for two consecutive years,” said Tina Ralyea, Chief Nursing Officer of Baptist and Baptist Parkridge hospitals. “This recognition reflects the consistent pursuit of excellence from the interdisciplinary and collaborative team. Every day and in every encounter, the patients and families are put first as the team lives out our purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Make a difference.”
Chief Executive Officer Michael Bundy, Baptist and Baptist Parkridge hospital, added “We have worked hard to develop a culture in which we pursue excellence – not for merit badges but because these team members want to be the best and continue to challenge themselves.”
Bundy said given the global impact of COVID-19, reaching the top was even harder this year than last because Baptist Parkridge “went up in our acuity level; we were taking care of sicker people.”
To qualify, hospitals must rank top among peers on the voluntary, national Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on quality and patient safety. Hospitals must achieve an “A” safety grade; meet Leapfrog standards for computerized provider order entry, ICU physician staffing and commit to a serious reportable event, “Never Event” policy; and report on all (applicable) measures and meet Leapfrog standards on at least 60 percent of them. Hospitals must also meet the committee’s qualitative requirements for overall excellence, which include a review of data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other publicly available information.
Along with Baptist Parkridge, other Prisma Health facilities including Baptist Easley, Greer Memorial, Hillcrest, Laurens County and Oconee Memorial hospitals earned “A” safety grades from Leapfrog for Fall 2021.
