Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group
Grade reflects top national performance on patient safety through COVID-19 pandemic
HARKER HEIGHTS, TEXAS (May 3, 2023) – Seton Medical Center Harker Heights (SMCHH) received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates Seton Medical Center Harker Heights’ achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.
“The high standards for patient safety upheld by our caregivers and medical staff are a vital part of the clinical excellence we provide to our community,” shared Patrick Swindle, SMCHH Chief Executive Officer. “This prestigious award validates our team’s continued commitment to serve in alignment with our mission—to provide quality healthcare in Christian love, service and dignity.”
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“This new update of Hospital Safety Grades shows that, at the national level, we saw deterioration in patient safety with the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “But this hospital received an ‘A’ despite those challenges. I congratulate all the leaders, staff, volunteers and clinicians who together made that possible.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
To see Seton Harker Heights’ full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.
About Seton Medical Center Harker Heights
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights (SMCHH) is an 83-bed acute care hospital that opened in 2012 in Harker Heights, Texas offering an array of services such as Cardiology, Emergency Services, a Level IV Trauma Designated Emergency Room, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Total Joint Replacement, Gastroenterology, a dedicated Women’s Center, Diagnostic Services and more. We provide exceptional care through collaboration with our associates, physicians, volunteers and community partners. Our award-winning staff provides patient care with dignity and respect. We are Joint Commission Accredited, an Accredited Chest Pain Center and Advanced Primary Stroke Center. SMCHH is a joint venture between the Austin-based Seton Healthcare Family and Nashville-based Ardent Health Services. For more information about SMCHH, visit SetonHarkerHeights.net and Facebook.com/SetonHH.
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 for patient safety. 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. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.