Local Dignity Health Hospitals Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award

Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City have received the 2016 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

The distinction places these facilities in the top 10 percent of all hospitals nationwide for excellent performance in safeguarding patients from serious, potentially preventable complications during their hospital stays. 

"At Dominican, everything we do is in pursuit of providing the safest environment possible for our patients," said Nanette Mickiewicz, MD, Dominican Hospital president. "This achievement is a testament to the fundamental culture of safety practiced by our entire team."

"This recognition from Healthgrades reflects our deeply-rooted commitment to keeping our patients safe," said Bill Graham, Sequoia Hospital president. "Every caregiver at Sequoia believes patient safety is a critical part of delivering the highest quality care to our community."

On average, patients treated in Healthgrades 2016 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient hospitals were:

• 40 percent less likely to experience an accidental puncture or laceration during a procedure, compared to patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.
• 44 percent less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, compared to patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.
• 54 percent less likely to experience catheter-related blood stream infections, compared to patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.
• 50 percent less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, compared to patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.^[1]

During the study period (2012-2014), Healthgrades 2016 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient hospitals performed with excellence in providing safety for patients in the Medicare population, as measured by objective outcomes (risk-adjusted patient safety indicator rates) for 13 patient safety indicators defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).  

Dominican and Sequoia have received several recognitions from Healthgrades this year, including: 

Dominican Hospital

America's 100 Best Hospitals

• Coronary Intervention

  Top 5% in the Nation

• Coronary Interventional Procedures

Top 10% in the Nation

• Coronary Interventional Procedures
• Cardiac Surgery
• General Surgery

Excellence Award

• Coronary Interventional Procedures
• Cardiac Surgery
• General Surgery

Five-Star Awards

• Gallbladder Removal Surgery
• Sepsis
• Coronary Bypass Surgery
• Coronary Interventional Procedures

Sequoia Hospital

America's 50 Best Hospitals, Cardiac Surgery

America's 100 Best Hospitals

• Cardiac Care
• Cardiac Surgery

  Top 5% in the Nation  

• Cardiac Surgery

Excellence Awards

• Overall Cardiac Services
• Cardiac Care
• Cardiac Surgery

Five-Star Award

• Valve Surgery
• Treatment of Stroke
• Colorectal Surgery
• Treatment of Heart Attack
• Treatment of Heart Failure
• Treatment of Sepsis
• Treatment of Respiratory Failure

About Dominican Hospital 

Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been caring for the Santa Cruz County community for more than 70 years. Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center and Chest Pain 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 regularly receives 'A' grades for hospital safety from Leapfrog Group, and 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.

About Sequoia Hospital 

Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital is an accredited, not-for-profit community hospital providing innovative and exceptional health care for generations of Bay Area residents. Sequoia's Heart and Vascular Institute is a nationally known pioneer in advanced cardiac care, affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute. Sequoia has received national recognition from Healthgrades for superior patient safety and was named as one of America's top 100 hospitals for cardiac care. Our Total Joint Replacement program is a designated Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, and our Birth Center is consistently ranked as a favorite among Peninsula families. We are also known for our comprehensive emergency care and leading-edge tomosynthesis 3-D mammogram technology. Our new state-of-the-art Pavilion combines the most advanced medical and surgical services with a unique healing environment, including private, spacious rooms and inviting garden areas. 

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[1] Statistics are based on Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and Excellence Award methodology which includes application of AHRQ QI software to MedPAR data for years 2012 through 2014 and represent 3-year estimates for Medicare patients only.