On Nov. 7 of this year, The Leapfrog Group published a health care safety report that graded Arkansas’s hospitals on their ability to safely care for patients. While the number of hospitals with “A” grades has doubled since the report published earlier this year in May, that only brought the number to a mere four hospitals in the state.
Compared to other states, Arkansas didn’t rank highly—they came in at 42nd in the nation. Over half of the hospitals listed in the state’s report received a “C” grade, and almost a third were rated even lower. Arkansas hospitals who received “D” grades in patient safety are:
- CHI St. Vincent Medical Center North in Sherwood
- CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center in Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center Little Rock in Little Rock
- Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway
- Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton
- National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs
- Baptist Health Fort Smith in Fort Smith
Even worse than the hospitals listed above, one Arkansas hospital, Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, received an “F” grade.
The grading report assesses and scores a hospital’s quality, safety, and overall patient experience through 28 safety factors. Hospitals completed a survey that included data on the factors and submitted them to The Leapfrog Group. Some of those factors include ICU physician staffing, healthcare-associated infections, hospital-acquired condition rates, bar code medication administration efficiency, and safe practice scores.
Even though many hospitals on this list still have major changes to make in order to improve their level of care for their patients, and subsequently raise their grade, this report pinpoints problems in care so that hospitals have a reference point of where to start their efforts. Hopefully low-scoring hospitals utilize this information and make necessary improvements so that patients can get the better care that they deserve.
If you’ve experienced unforeseen complications after a surgery in Arkansas, you could have a medical malpractice case against the hospital or doctor who made the mistake. McMath Woods P.A. in Little Rock can provide you with expert legal support for your claim and defend your rights through this hard time. Reach out today for a free consultation.
