Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results Released

The results of the 2008 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, released this week, suggest that hospitals still have tremendous work to do to be safe for patients. 

For example, sixty-five percent yet to put in place all of the recommended policies to prevent hospital-acquired infections (though this is an improvement from 87% in 2007).  Similarly, seventy-five percent do not fully meet the standards for thirteen critical safety practices from hand washing to the competency of the nursing staff.  Just 30% of hospitals are fully meeting the standards for preventing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and only 25% are meeting standards for preventing certain injuries in the hospitals. 

The Leapfrog Group's Survey included 1,276 hospitals in 37 major metropolitan areas.