Dominican Hospital Receives ‘A’ for Patient Safety in Spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (April 29, 2021) – Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has received a fourth consecutive ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national recognition of the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. 

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care. 

“Our caregivers pour their hearts and souls into providing the safest, highest-quality patient care to our community,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “Now more than ever, keeping our patients safe is at the center of everything we do. This recognition is a testament to that commitment, and I am so proud of our team.” 

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

This recognition is the latest of several distinctions Dominican Hospital has received recently. In late 2020, Dominican received honors from Healthgrades as among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for cardiac care, as well as recognition for excellence in critical care, pulmonary care, and gastrointestinal care. The Birth Center at Dominican Hospital was also recognized by Blue Shield of California with a Blue Distinction® Centers for Maternity Care designation.

About Dominican Hospital 
Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been caring for the Santa Cruz County community for generations. Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, advanced neurological and endoscopic services, and an expert heart and vascular team treating some of the most complex cardiac cases in the Monterey Bay area. Dominican Hospital offers a comprehensive, Baby Friendly-designated Birth Center, and provides an on-site Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Stanford Children’s Health. Dominican has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Dominican also has received several awards for environmental excellence. Dominican Hospital is planning a $360 million seismic update and modernization project to ensure that the growing Santa Cruz County community can access world class health care well into the future. The project will allow for advanced technology, new state-of-the-art facilities, and even more innovative healing spaces. To learn more about Dominican Hospital, please visit dignityhealth.org/dominican.

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