The release of the Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades show Maryland hospitals could be getting safer. Though the state fell eight spots since the Spring reviews, ranking 38 out of the 49, Maryland ratings have still shown quite a bit of improvement.

Maryland was first rated by The Leap From Group back in 2017. Among the 44 hospitals and medical centers evaluated in the state, this is how the rankings compared: 

Fall 2017

• 1 hospital scored an ‘A’
• 7 hospitals scored a ‘B’
• 27 hospitals scored a ‘C’
• 8 hospitals scored a ‘D’
• 1 hospital scored a ‘F’

Fall 2019 

• 10 hospitals scored an ‘A’ 
• 16 hospitals scored a ‘B’
• 14 hospitals scored a ‘C’
• 4 hospitals scored a ‘D’

Despite the significant change in health and safety practices, Maryland hospitals still have a long way to go. Medical errors remain one of the leading causes of death in America, taking hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Hospitals and medical centers have a responsibility to reduce the risk of injury to patients with proper planning and prevention methods. When facilities fall behind in these areas, patients should be made aware. 

What To Know About The Grade

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade has become the golden standard for medical facilities to strive for. For nearly 20 years, The Leap Frog Group has been committed to raising the bar for safer health care by holding medical facilities accountable for their actions. Their biannual reports (released in Spring and Fall) provide patients with the critical information they need to make informed decisions about their health through transparency and education on the safety of their local hospitals. 

The Leapfrog Expert Panel derives each hospital’s grade by selecting, analyzing, and determining the weight of 28 measures of hospital safety based on three factors: evidence, the opportunity for improvement, and impact. Each measure is then defined into two groups contributing to 50 percent of the overall score: Process/Structural Measures (how often facilities communicate with their patients and the environment/systems a hospital uses to serve patients) and Outcome Measures (what happens to the patient while they are receiving care at a medical facility).

The 28 measures are spread across five main areas of risk that can significantly affect a patient’s health and safety, including: 

• Problems with Surgery
• Infections
• Practices to Prevent Medical Errors
• Safety Problems 
• Doctors, Nurses & Hospital Staff

Maryland Fall 2019 Grades

Maryland did not have any facilities with failing grades this year, but four facilities were borderline. These facilities are struggling with a number of different safety practices that could put patients in danger, such as: 

• High rates of MRSA infection. 
• High rates of infections in the blood. 
• Respiratory issues after surgery. 
• Surgical blood clots. 
• Medication errors (prescribing and administering). 
• High rate of bed sores. 
• Lack of speciality trained doctors in ICU, 
• Lack of effective communication with nurses. 

Even more concerning than the errors and shortcomings found during these surveys is the information ‘D’ rated hospitals refused to provide. These areas include handwashing practices, staff collaboration to prevent errors, and the ability to track risks or hire enough leaders to help reduce harm to patients. 

See how your local hospital rated below: 

A-Grade

• Anne Arundel Medical Center – Annapolis
• Holy Cross Germantown Hospital – Germantown
• Howard County General Hospital – Columbia
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center – Baltimore
• MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital – Baltimore 
• MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital – Leonardtown
• Mercy Medical Center – Baltimore
• Suburban Hospital – Bethesda
• UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center – Glen Burnie
• University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center – Towson

B-Grade

• Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center – Rockville
• Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center – Silver Spring
• Atlantic General Hospital – Berlin
• Carroll Hospital Center – Westminster
• Doctors Community Hospital – Lanham
• Frederick Health Hospital – Frederick
• Greater Baltimore Medical Center – Baltimore
• MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center – Baltimore
• MedStar Montgomery Medical Center – Olney
• Meritus Medical Center – Hagerstown
• St. Agnes Hospita l- Baltimore
• The Johns Hopkins Hospital – Baltimore
• University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center – La Plata
• University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus – Baltimore
• University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Dorchester – Cambridge
• University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton – Easton

C-Grade

• CalvertHealth Medical Center – Prince Frederick
• Fort Washington Medical Center – Fort Washington
• Garrett Regional Medical Center – Oakland
• Holy Cross Hospital – Silver Spring
• MedStar Harbor Hospital – Baltimore
• MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center – Clinton
• MedStar Union Memorial Hospital – Baltimore
• Peninsula Regional Medical Center – Salisbury
• UM Harford Memorial Hospital – Havre De Grace
• Union Hospital – Elkton
• University of Maryland Medical Center – Baltimore
• University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown – Chestertown 
• University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center – Bel Air
• Western Maryland Regional Medical Center – Cumberland

D-Grade

• Bon Secours Hospital – Baltimore
• Northwest Hospital – Randallstown
• Sinai Hospital of Baltimore – Baltimore
• University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center – Cheverly

How To Stay Safe

Not all hospitals are as safe as others. And patients should not have to sacrifice their health because their local hospital is neglectful. Before your next appointment, these are the steps you should be taking to reduce your risk for medical errors: 

• Do your research.
• Ask questions about the facility and your procedures. 
• Check the safety grade and the areas of concern. 
• Talk to your doctor about how they reduce their risk for medical errors. 
• Know the facility’s policy for responding to emergencies. 
• Look into the physicians affiliated with a hospital to see what type of reputation they have. 
• Search for any medical malpractice suits made against the facility to determine other possible areas of risk. 

Baltimore Winning Medical Malpractice Attorneys – D’Amore Personal Injury Law

Accidents caused by preventable medical errors can be devastating and life-threatening. Hospitals have a responsibility to keep their patients safe, and this includes putting proper safety methods in place. If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical negligence, our experienced team at D’amore Personal Injury Law is here to help. 

Our Maryland medical malpractice lawyers have the trial experience to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Don’t Get Mad… Get Justice! Call 1-800-JUSTICE or fill out an online contact form to get the justice you deserve. You will reach one of our successful medical malpractice attorneys to review your case. Our consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win!