Receives CMS Highest 5-Star Rating, Leapfrog ‘A,’ and Healthgrades Top 5% in Nation
Ranking in the top 6 percent of the nation among hospitals reporting data, St. Joseph Medical Center was awarded the highest 5-star Overall Hospital Ranking by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) for its performance in 2019. This top rating is the latest to acknowledge quality care at St. Joseph Medical Center, which was also recently recognized by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades with an “A” grade and by Healthgrades with awards in six categories, including being named among the Top 5% in the Nation for Patient Safety in 2019.
“The importance of these latest highest rankings and awards can’t be overemphasized,” said Jodi Fincher, CEO, St. Joseph Medical Center. “They point to our ongoing commitment to quality and overall safety for our patients and staff. We’re honored that St. Joseph Medical Center has been recognized for its commitment to health care excellence in our communities.”
St. Joseph Medical Center credits these achievements to a commitment to clinical excellence and the implementation of broad range of hospital initiatives undertaken, from investments in equipment and technology to clinical processes and leadership.
“We are extremely thankful for the medical professionals at St. Joseph Medical Center for all that they do to care for Kansas City residents,” said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McManus. “That St. Joseph’s has been consistently ranked top in quality is a testament to their commitment and is a source of pride for our community.”
Five-Star Rating by CMS Hospital Compare
This overall hospital rating is based on measure data publicly reported on Hospital Compare (medicare.gov/hospitalcompare). It reflects more than 50 measures across seven aspects of quality, including patient experience and effectiveness of care. The hospital rating shows how well each hospital performed on average compared to other hospitals in the U.S. in treating common conditions such as heart attacks or pneumonia. Participating hospitals reported data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that runs the Medicare program, through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. Those hospitals were then given an overall rating, ranging from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 as the highest and 3 the most common score. St. Joseph Medical Center earned a 5-star rating and ranked in the top 6 percent, according to the report.
“A” Grade by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
St. Joseph Medical Center was also recently awarded an ‘A’ grade in the 2019Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements to protect patients from harm and to provide safer health care. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization that monitors health care quality and safety, issued a safety grade (A, B, C, D or F) to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harm to patients in their care. Using 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data, the organization assigns grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year, using a peer-reviewed methodology.
“Hospitals earning an A-grade show us their leadership through protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level – from clinicians to administrators to the board of directors – and we congratulate the team at St. Joseph Medical Center that worked so hard to earn this A.”
Healthgrades Awards in Six Categories, Top 5 Percent in Nation for Patient Safety
St. Joseph Medical Center was further recognized in 2019 by Healthgrades, another national organization for patient safety. Last month, Healthgrades ranked St. Joseph Medical Center in the top 5 percent in the nation for both Patient Safety and Coronary Intervention Procedures in 2019. In addition, St. Joseph Medical Center was recognized for the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award 2019 and the Healthgrades 5-star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke 2019.
“As consumers are increasingly savvy when it comes to finding and selecting a hospital, patients can be confident when they select a hospital that has achieved this Healthgrades recognition,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer, Healthgrades.
St. Joseph Medical Center’s achievement is part of findings released in December in the Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation which underscores the importance of hospital quality.