Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton were both awarded an “A” from The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2018 Hospital Safety Grade, demonstrating the hospitals’ commitments to delivering safe, high-quality patient care to the Central Coast community. Sierra Vista and Twin Cities have achieved consecutive A’s every reporting period since the ratings first came out in 2012 – only 42 hospitals across the country have achieved straight A’s since 2012.
This designation recognizes Sierra Vista and Twin Cities’ efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. The Hospital Safety Grade is designed to give consumers information they can use to make healthcare decisions for themselves or a loved one. The Leapfrog Group assigns A, B, C, D or F grades to hospitals across the country based on their ability to prevent errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
“We focus on driving improvements in care delivery and patient satisfaction every day. This rating recognizes our continuous commitment to placing safety at the forefront of our patients’ care,” said Mark Lisa, CEO of Sierra Vista and Twin Cities. “Our clinical leaders regularly review our hospital’s patient care processes and compare our data to nationally recognized benchmarks and best practices. Nothing is more important to us than offering our patients trusted care in a safe environment.”
“Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades recognize hospitals like Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital that focus on advancing patient safety. This ranking provides an important resource for patients, and a benchmark for hospitals, to determine how care at one hospital compares to others in a region,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an A Hospital Safety Grade deserve to be recognized for their efforts in preventing medical harm and errors.”
Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and the results are free to the public.
Sierra Vista and Twin Cities are two of 855 hospitals across the country awarded an “A” in the Fall 2018 update of grades. To see both hospitals’ full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.
About Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center
As the largest hospital in San Luis Obispo County, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center strives to produce optimal outcomes and exceptional patient experiences to the community it serves. With 164 beds, Sierra Vista puts advanced technology into the hands of experienced medical specialists to deliver quality healthcare. High-level services include neurosurgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, perinatology (high-risk pregnancy), neonatology (high-risk newborn care), pediatrics, cancer care and trauma. Sierra Vista houses the largest Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between Santa Barbara and Salinas, the only dedicated pediatric unit in San Luis Obispo County and serves as the county’s designated trauma center. Sierra Vista is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and has been serving the community since 1959.
About Twin Cities Community Hospital
Twin Cities Community Hospital, a 122-bed acute care hospital, has been caring for the communities of Northern San Luis Obispo County since 1977. With a medical staff of more than 200 physicians and 400 caregivers and support staff, the hospital specializes in emergency care, obstetrics, orthopedics and a broad array of medical, surgical and outpatient services. Twin Cities Community Hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® with distinction for its knee replacement program. In addition, the hospital is recognized as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery. Baby-Friendly USA designated Twin Cities Community Hospital as an internationally recognized Baby-Friendly birth facility. The hospital also reports one of the lowest Cesarean section rates in the State of California.
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.