Nearly four in 10 California Hospitals received a grade of C or lower for Patient Safety

Grades were issued in April, 2015 to 2,523 U.S. hospitals, including 248 in California for patient safety

The LA Times has published an interactive map of California hospital scores online in addition to other helpful hospital resources for consumers.

The results indicate improvement in safety processes related to surgery and the use of computerized prescribing systems to avoid mistakes. But hospital performance on reducing infections, accidents, errors, and neglect hasn’t significantly improved

In recent data received, 43% of California hospitals received an A rating — the seventh-highest rate among states nationwide. That’s up from 40% three years ago.

Twenty-nine California hospitals have achieved straight A’s on patient safety since spring 2012.

Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente has 17 of its hospitals on that list, including its medical centers in West Los Angeles and Riverside.

Other straight-A performers across the Southland include Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center earned a B grade and UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center received a C.

Nationwide, medical experts say about 400,000 lives are lost annually to hospital errors. One in every 25 hospital patients will contract a new infection during their stay, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Whether or not a Hospital or a Long Term Care Facility receives an A, B, C, or failing grade, all of us must be forewarned that we need to watch and make sure we are receiving patient safety.  We must advocate for our Elders and Dependent Adults  and stand up for our rights.  By doing so you will certainly receive the medical care your deserve and pay for.

About the Author

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.