AO Fox Hospital Nationally Recognized with an A Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade - 19 May 2022

Bassett Healthcare Network’s A.O. Fox Hospital received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Fox’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital.

“We are incredibly proud of our caregivers and practitioners at A.O. Fox Hospital for continually achieving this prestigious recognition, the only hospital in our region to do so,” says Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, President & CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network. “Fox has greatly improved its patient safety practices and is doing stellar work – and our network hospitals are collaborating closely to replicate this work daily, sharing ideas, best practices, and supporting one another. Our colleagues at Fox are reaffirming for all of Bassett Healthcare Network how we reach our shared goal of becoming a national leader in creating healthy rural communities.” 

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“These assessments from Leapfrog are rigorous,” explains Dr. Henry Weil, chief academic and clinical officer at Bassett Healthcare Network. “Achieving the highest grade of an ‘A’ is a highly significant feat. Learning how we measure up against hospitals around the state and country is very beneficial to our organization as we continually work to improve safety metrics.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“This recognition represents tremendous work,” says Dr. Reginald Q. Knight, chief hospital executive at A.O. Fox Hospital. “Fox has maintained an ‘A’ hospital safety grade for more than two years amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – and is performing above the national average with patient safety ratings. I am immensely proud of the dedication our team demonstrates every day. Ultimately, their exceptional performance reflects a deep commitment to our patients and communities.”

"As our national health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of A.O. Fox Hospital for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ safety grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.”

To see A.O. Fox Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.