According to The Leapfrog Group press release that accompanied publication of the safety scores, hospital errors result in roughly 400 deaths each day. The statement goes on to explain that recent studies have also determined that one in four Medicare patients will leave a hospital with a potentially fatal issue they did not have prior to hospitalization. In similarly disturbing findings, one medication error occurs per day for each hospitalized patient, and more than 180,000 Americans die each year from hospital accidents, infections, and errors.
Colorado Hospital Safety Scores
In the Denver area, hospitals generally received good ratings with Denver Health Medical Center, Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, and Exempla St. Joseph Hospital all receiving "B" ratings, and Rose Medical Center and Centura Health-Porter Adventist Hospital receiving "A" ratings. In Boulder, however, the only hospital rated, the Boulder Community Hospital, received a "C" rating, and in Colorado Springs, both hospitals rated, the Memorial Health System and Centura Health-Penrose St. Francis Health Services, received "C" ratings.The Leapfrog Group urges patients to consider hospital ratings before choosing a hospital, for while your hospital may boast the latest equipment and excellent specialists, failure to maintain basic safety practices, such as hand-washing, computerized medication control, and nursing staff levels, could present serious health risks to you and your loved ones.
