Stanford Health Care named a ‘Top Teaching Hospital’ by Leapfrog Group

Stanford Health Care has been named one of the nation’s best teaching hospitals by the Leapfrog Group, a top health care watchdog organization that evaluates providers based on rigorous quality and patient safety standards.

Announced Dec. 17, the highly competitive award recognizes hospitals based on their performance in a number of areas, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care and capacity to prevent medication errors.

Stanford Health Care is among 55 academic medical centers to receive the “top teaching hospital” designation this year. Leapfrog also honored 65 general, rural and children’s hospitals. Overall, more than 2,000 hospitals were considered for a “top hospital” distinction from the group, which is comprised of employers and other purchasers.

“This achievement underscores our deep commitment to providing our patients with the highest-value care,” said David Entwistle, president and CEO of Stanford Health Care. “We are honored to be recognized in this distinguished group, and I am personally grateful to our staff and faculty at Stanford Health Care and the School of Medicine for their dedication to superior quality and safety. We are excited to continue this tradition of excellence in our new state-of-the-art hospital.”

To qualify for a top hospital award, a hospital must participate in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which collects performance data on 28 measures, ranging from intensive care unit staffing to implementation and effectiveness of computerized physician order entry. Leapfrog uses this information to compile a weighted, composite value score for each hospital; only hospitals with a value score in the top 10% among their peers are considered for a top hospital honor.

“Enhancing patient safety and quality of care is critical to our Precision Health vision. I couldn’t be prouder of Stanford Health Care and our School of Medicine for the progress made in these areas while educating the health care leaders of the future,” Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, said. “Through strategic collaboration and a unified focus, our faculty and staff have strengthened what was already a world-class patient care environment.”