We’re a Top Hospital. What Does That Mean for You?

When you’re looking for health care, you have so many options. We’re always gratified when you choose Beaufort Memorial, and you’re our reason for seeking to provide the best possible care. Recently, our efforts were rewarded with Top Hospital status. This elite hospital ranking is one indication that we’re committed to providing each and every patient — and their family members — with expert, safe care.

Read More: Be Our Partner in Keeping Patients Safe

The ‘Top Hospital’ Honor

There are many different programs and organizations that review hospitals and rank them, with differing criteria. The specific designation we’re talking about comes from The Leapfrog Group, a national organization dedicated to advancing safety in hospitals. The organization evaluates hospitals across the country and ranks as leaders in the field those with programs and systems in place to prevent medication errors and lower infection rates and those that offer high-quality care.

While there’s no limit on the number of hospitals that can be recognized as a Top Hospital, the award is prestigious, and only the best are honored. There are four categories of Top Hospitals: general hospitals, children’s hospitals, rural hospitals and teaching hospitals.

Of the more than 2,200 hospitals across the nation that were considered, 115 or about 5% received the Top Hospital designation — and only 32 were in the General Top Hospital category. Beaufort Memorial was included among that elite group, one of only three in South Carolina.

“Being recognized among the nation’s top 5% of hospitals is an incredible honor and one we don’t take lightly,” says Russell Baxley, president and CEO at Beaufort Memorial. “This honor represents a full team effort, with each and every one of our employees sharing the same commitment to provide safe, high-quality care.”

Read More: Patient Guide: Key Information for Your Stay

How Our Patients Benefit

The award is more than just an honor for us. It translates to better care for you and every member of our community. When determining the top hospitals, Leapfrog uses a grading system, and the highest-ranking hospitals earn an A grade, meaning they share a commitment to patient safety and optimal quality of care.

Hospitals ranking among the elite received a high grade in 30 different performance measures. These quality measures look at the hospital overall and how it prioritizes safety.

What does that mean for you? Specifically, it means:

• When taking medications, you’ll be at a lower risk of avoidable drug errors because medical providers use a computerized physician order entry system, allowing them to cross-check for drug interactions.
• If you need intensive care, you’ll be attended to appropriately in the intensive care unit, monitored by a fully staffed care team with specialized intensivist training.
• You’ll receive advanced care guided by safety measures in seven key areas: inpatient care, surgery, pediatric care, medication safety, maternity care, outpatient procedures, and infection prevention and treatment.
• If you’re having a procedure that’s considered high risk, for example, certain complicated cardiovascular or cancer-related surgeries, you’ll have the peace of mind of being treated by a care team with a high level of hands-on experience and considerable expertise.

Among the many standards required across the board for Top Hospital status, particular measures had to be met for maternity care and orthopedic care that translate to safe and optimal care in those areas.

In maternity services, specialized processes in place at the hospital minimize the need for cesarean sections, while a Level II nursery is available to care for babies with special needs after birth. Patients having orthopedic procedures benefit from fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions after surgery.

“Our goal is to provide our patients with safe and efficient medical care,” Baxley says. “While we’re pleased to be a Top Hospital, our commitment to safety means we are always looking to improve as we move forward. That’s our promise to you.”

Have an upcoming hospital stay? Get all the details you’ll need to know as you’re planning a stay or a visit to our hospital.