Maine ranks No. 17 in the U.S. for hospital patient safety in a report evaluating how well facilities protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
Leapfrog Group, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety performance. In Maine, more than a third of its hospitals earned an A grade.
The five medical facilities ranked the highest are: MaineHealth Medical Center in Biddeford, MaineHealth Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth and Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland.
Five others earned a B grade: Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, St. Joseph Hospital of Bangor and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.
C grades went to Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, and Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle.
York Hospital did not participate in the survey and was not graded.
Maine garnered no grades lower than C.
Across the nation
States with the highest percentage of A-rated hospitals are Connecticut, Virginia, South Carolina, Utah, Montana, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and California.
National data shows significant improvement in 17 measures of errors and infections, including medication administration, computerized physician order entry and patient experience measures.
“The good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog Group.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade was launched in 2012. Grades are updated twice a year.
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, the Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit organization focused on driving patient safety.
