Home Augusta Health earns top grades
Local News

Augusta Health earns top grades

Contributors

Story by Chris Graham
[email protected]
 

Call Augusta Health the “little hospital that could.” Call it that because it’s one of 74 hospitals nationwide to win top awards for patient safety and clinical excellence from HealthGrades from among the more than 5,000 hospitals in the United States reviewed by the Golden, Colo.,-based organization.

Augusta Health is one of 15 hospitals with fewer than 200 acute-care beds to win HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award and Distinguished Hospital Award for 2010.

“This comes from the employees and staff of this organization. They’re extraordinarily committed, patient-centered and focused on excellence and teamwork. That’s a critical success factor. It’s built into the culture here,” said Mary Mannix, the president and CEO of Augusta Health.

What this means to you: Medicare patients at hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were on average 43 percent less likely to experience a patient-safety event, according to HealthGrades. Patients admitted to Distinguished Hospital Award honorees had risk-adjusted mortality rates that were on average 29 percent lower than all other hospitals.

The grades are based on a review of 40 million hospitalization records from the 5,000 hospitals in the U.S. that participate in the Medicare program. Participation in the HealthGrades studies is mandatory.

“To be the best of the best means you have to stay ahead of the curve,” said Dr. Joseph Ranzini, the chairman of Augusta Health’s Quality and Patient Safety Committee and a member of the Augusta Health Board of Directors.

“The bar is constantly moving. If we get better, somebody is trying to leapfrog us to get better. It’s an ongoing, moving target. And we’re perfectly happy to engage in that kind of results-oriented test. We’re not aiming for awards. We’re interested in having good outcomes. That’s really what it is for us,” Ranzini said.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

isaac mckneely uva basketball
Basketball, Sports

Five Observations: UVA Basketball gets more good offense in road win

Daytona 500 Odds, Picks, & How To Bet
Sports

Daytona 500 Odds, Picks, & How To Bet

The NASCAR Cup chase will begin with the 2025 Daytona 500 on Saturday. The 67th annual Daytona 500 promises to be one of the most exciting races of the season, and the best NASCAR betting sites are giving away free bets and bonus cash for the big race. Learn how to bet on the 2025...

uva basketball andrew rohde shooting
Basketball, Sports

Live Coverage: UVA Basketball grits out 73-70 win at Virginia Tech

Virginia has now won four of its last five, getting 22 points from Isaac McKneely and 15 off the bench from redshirt freshman Anthony Robinson in a 73-70 victory at Virginia Tech on Saturday.

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in Florida

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina
Sports News

How To Bet On The Daytona 500 in South Carolina

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500
Sports News

5 Best Betting Apps for the 2025 Daytona 500

uva ryan dunn ncst
Basketball, Sports

UVA Basketball alum Ryan Dunn set for NBA All-Star Game Tournament on Sunday