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Overlake Earns 'A' Grade for Patient Safety in April 2016 Hospital Safety Score
[May 02, 2016]

Overlake Earns 'A' Grade for Patient Safety in April 2016 Hospital Safety Score


New Hospital Safety Scores, which assign letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. health care system, were announced recently by The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog. Overlake Medical Center has received an A for three years running, ranking among the safest hospitals in the United States.

Moreover, Overlake was one of only three area hospitals to earn the distinction and is one of 153 hospitals nationwide that have had "Straight As" over the last three years. There are only three of these hospitals located in the state of Washington.

"We are so honored and proud to receive this 'A' grade from The Leapfrog Group for a third year in a row," said Overlake CEO J. Michael Marsh. "Patient safety is our hospital's top priority and this award demonstrates our commitment and consistency."

"Avoidable deaths in hospitals should be the number one concern of our health care leaders. Hospitals that earn an 'A' from Leapfrog are leaders in saving lives, and we commend them and urge their continued vigilance," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

Developed under the guidance of Leapfrog's Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

For the first time, the Hospital Safety Score includes five measures of patient-reported experience with the hospital as well as two f the most common infections, C.diff and MRSA.



To see Overlake's full score, and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org or follow The Hospital Safety Score on Twitter or Facebook. Consumers can also download the free Hospital Safety Score mobile app for Apple and Android (News - Alert) devices.

Reporters interested in interviews should contact Lee Keller or Sarah Nolan at the Keller Group at 425.898.2700 or [email protected] and [email protected].


About Overlake Medical Center

Overlake Medical Center is the only nonprofit, non-tax-supported regional medical center with a network of medical clinics throughout the Eastside. The hospital is licensed for 349 beds and offers a comprehensive range of services including cardiac care, cancer care, general and specialty surgery, women's programs, senior care and psychiatric services. It was the first Level III trauma service on the Eastside. For more information, visit www.overlakehospital.org.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. Hospital Safety Score, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.


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