DCH Health System Retains 'B' Leapfrog Safety Grade

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — DCH Health System's hospitals in Fayette, Northport and Tuscaloosa have retained a "B" grade for patient safety and quality in the Leapfrog Group's Fall 2024 Hospital Safety Grade Report.

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This comes after the hospital system saw its grade improve from a "D" to a "B" this spring, as Patch previously reported.

Leapfrog is a nonprofit that evaluates hospitals on key safety and quality metrics, which issues the report twice a year.

DCH says its "B" grade reflects ongoing efforts to enhance patient safety and overall care with measures including stricter protocols to prevent errors, improved infection control, and enhanced patient satisfaction.

DCH said nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States participate in the voluntary Leapfrog survey, including hospitals from all regions of the country and is considered one of the most comprehensive evaluations of patient safety in the U.S.

As recently as 2021, under the last administration before the hiring of DCH Health System CEO Katrina Keefer, Patch reported that all three DCH hospitals received a "D" grade.

Click here for a look at the full report.

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