Leapfrog Group Gives Low Patient Safety Ratings to Multiple Maryland Hospitals
Each year, the nonprofit organization known as The Leapfrog Group assigns patient safety ratings to hospitals around the country, in an attempt to make hospital practices more transparent to the public. In a country where medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death and leads to over 250,000 fatalities every year, this type of research is critical to help prevent further patient injuries – and draw attention to troubling patterns of medical error.
For 2020, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade reported that three Maryland hospitals had received either a “D” or an “F” rating. After analyzing these hospitals in areas like total number of infections, surgical problems, safety practices, safety concerns, and staffing, The Leapfrog Group determined their performance in these areas was substandard. In all three cases, the hospitals have either consistently failed on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade or showed low-to-average scores in previous years.
The three worst hospitals in Maryland for 2020 include:
- UM Harford Memorial Hospital, Havre De Grace – D Grade
- University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, Cheverly – D Grade
- Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore – F Grade
From dangerous levels of MRSA infections to recurring problems with bedsores and patient falls, these hospitals all performed much worse than other hospitals in the state of Maryland. While not every person who visits a poor hospital will automatically suffer an error – and not all instances of medical error are fatal – it is alarming that these hospitals have continually failed to prioritize patient safety.
At Brown & Barron, LLC, our medical malpractice lawyers are committed advocates for patients who have suffered serious injuries and lost loved ones to medical errors. We believe it’s important to hold medical professionals accountable for negligence so that no one has to suffer these preventable injuries. Using our knowledge of the civil justice system, we aim to make a real difference in the lives of others – and push hospitals to do better for Maryland patients.
Do you think that you have a medical error claim after a visit to one of these Maryland hospitals? Contact Brown & Barron, LLC today at (410) 698-1717 for a free consultation.