Chicago Hospital Receives 'F' Safety Grade; Northwestern, Other Area Hospitals Move Up in Rankings: Report
A handful of Illinois hospitals have moved up and earned higher marks on a biannual safety rankings list, according to a newly released report from health care watchdog group and nonprofit Leapfrog.
However, one Chicago hospital earned an "F" grade, and several others received a "D," the report shows.
The 2023 Spring Safety Grades report, which grades nearly 3,000 hospitals across the country, uses 30 performance measures along with five main measures that have "direct impact on patient safety outcomes" to generate the hospital safety ratings report, Leapfrog said. Those include nurse communication, doctor communication, staff responsiveness, communication about medicine and discharge information.
The group then assigns letter grades to hospitals on a scale of "A," "B," "C," D" and "F," the report states, which are updated biannually in the fall and the spring.
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In Illinois, 112 hospitals were graded.
Overall, the state ranked 28th nationwide, with 26.1% of hospitals in Illinois receiving an "A" letter grade. New Jersey earned the number one spot on the list, with 51.5% of hospitals earning top marks.
The report also shows that, in 2021, amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, health-care associated infections at hospitals across the country rose to a five-year high.
"Our pre-pandemic data showed improved HAI measures, but the spring 2023 Safety Grade data spotlights how hospital responses to the pandemic led to a decline in patient safety and HAI management," Leapfrog Group President and CEO Leah Binder said in the report.
Of Illinois' 112 hospitals graded, 29 earned an "A" grade, including Ascension Saint Mary-Chicago and NorthShore University Evanston Hospitals, which had both previously earned "B" ratings, as well as Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest and St. Bernard Hospitals, which had both previously earned "C" ratings.
"The Leapfrog score is a further step in the right direction and demonstrates St. Bernard Hospital’s continued dedication to serving its community,” St. Bernard Hospital President Charles Holland said in a statement. “Everyone should expect safe, quality and equitable care at our hospital, and we strive to exceed that expectation every day.”
Holland's statement added that the hospital will continue "fostering comprehensive community wellness in Chicago’s South Side community."
While 30 hospitals in Illinois earned "B" ratings, the number of hospitals that earned a "C" letter grade was the largest, at 44. Among that group was Vista Medical Center East, in Waukegan, which had improved two spots from receiving an "F" in the spring of 2022.
"Vista is proud to have improved during this rating period once again," a Vista spokesperson told NBC 5. "We continuously focus on safety, quality, and our patients’ experience as part of our overall efforts to enhance clinical performance and excellence. The dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff is making a difference and we look forward to advancing our work together."
Seven hospitals in the state -- four of which are in the Chicago area -- earned "D" rankings, the report says.
According to Leapfrog, St. Margaret's Health in Peru was docked for a number safety reasons, including a high number of health-care associated infections, and higher-than-average number of complications or "potentially harmful events" following surgeries, procedures or childbirth than other hospitals.
An alert on the hospital's website however, indicates that the hospital is closed.
"Effective Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 7am, St. Margaret's Health - Peru temporarily suspended all inpatient hospital services, including the Emergency Room and Obstetrics."
Calls to the hospital were met with a similar recorded message.
Other Chicago-area hospitals that earned "D" ratings included Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Community First Medical Center in Chicago and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.
The sole Illinois hospital to receive an "F" letter grade was Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago. In 2022, the hospital had earned a "D."
According to the report, Roseland was docked for higher-than-average instances of urinary tract infections, dangerous bed sores, poor handwashing practices and other "harmful events."
A report from the Chicago Tribune noted that Roseland President and CEO Tim Egan, in response to the grade, stated “We are terribly disappointed by Leapfrog’s assessment, but we also know that Leapfrog does not calculate social determinants of health, nor does it evaluate the challenged community we serve.”
NBC Chicago reached out to several area hospitals requesting comment, but have not yet received a response from all health care centers.
The full Leapfrog safety grades report for Spring 2023 can be found here.
Here's the full list of grades for Chicago-area hospitals:
Grade A
Ascension Alexian Brothers, Elk Grove Village
Ascension Mercy, Aurora
Ascension Saint Alexius, Hoffman Estates
Ascension Saint Mary-Chicago, Chicago
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst
MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn
NorthShore University HealthSystem Hospital Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park
Northwestern Medicine Hospital Central DuPage, Huntley, Kishwaukee, McHenry, Lake Forest
OSF Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Evergreen Park
Rush Copley Medical Center, Aurora
Rush Oak Park Hospital, Oak Park
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Silver Cross Hospital, New Lenox
St. Bernard Hospital, Chicago
Chicago Medicine AdventHealth, Bolingbrook, Glendale Heights, Hinsdale, LaGrange
University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago
Grade B
Ascension Resurrection, Chicago
Ascension Saint Francis, Evanston
Ascension Saint Mary-Kankakee
Edward Hospital, Naperville
Humboldt Park Health, Chicago
Jackson Park Hospital, Chicago
John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, Chicago
Loretto Hospital, Chicago
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Melrose Park
Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago
Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee
Grade C
Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn
Advocate Condell Medical Center, Libertyville
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge
Advocate Sherman Hospital, Elgin
Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest
Advocate Trinity Hospital, Chicago
Ascension Saint Joseph Joliet, Chicago, Elgin
Holy Cross Hospital, Chicago
Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood
Morris Hospital, Morris
Mt. Sinai Hospital, Chicago
Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, Palos Heights
Ottawa Regional Hospital and Health Care Center, Ottawa
Saint Anthony Hospital, Chicago
Swedish Hospital, Chicago
Thorek Memorial Hospital, Chicago
University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago
Vista Medical Center East, Waukegan
Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago
West Suburban Medical Center, Oak Park
Grade D
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove
Community First Medical Center, Chicago
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields
St. Margaret's Health, Peru
Grade F
Roseland Community Hospital, Chicago
This story will be updated.
Source: NBC Chicago
