According to a report released by non-profit hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group, Loyola University Medical Center and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital have earned top ratings in standards for nursing.
The Leapfrog Group asks general hospitals and free-standing paediatric hospitals in the U.S. to voluntarily complete the survey. The survey is used to report on issues that affect healthcare purchasers and consumers. The measures that are included in the survey are endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF) and/or aligned with those of other significant data collection entities like CMS and the Joint Commission.
Loyola and Gottlieb met the standards based on the NQF-endorsed safe practices on nursing workforce. These standards require all nursing staff services and leaders to provide adequate and safe care to patients. In order to attain this standard, hospitals need to comply with the 21 Leapfrog nursing workforce safe practices or, alternatively, achieve Magnet Status® recognition from the American Nursing Credentials Center.
Loyola and Gottlieb fulfilled the criterion in the areas of preventing medication errors, appropriately staffing its ICUs, taking steps to avoid harm to patients, managing serious errors and maternity care. Loyola also received a top rating in safety-focused scheduling and high-risk surgeries and Gottlieb excelled in preventing central-line blood stream infections, pressure ulcers and readmissions. Loyola University Medical Center and its outpatient facilities have already been redesignated as a Magnet organization in October 2014.
Source: Loyola University Health System
Image Credit: Loyola University Medical Center
