The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health care system, on Wednesday released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide. Andalusia Health was one of 823 hospitals to receive an “A” for its commitment to reducing errors, infections, and accidents that can harm patients.

“This is such an incredible accomplishment for the Andalusia Health Team,” John Yanes, CEO of Andalusia Health, said. “While receiving the top grade is an admirable accomplishment, it simply demonstrates the more significant effort of our employees working in partnership with our physicians to deliver on our mission of making communities healthier.

I am very proud of the care they provide to our patients. Now we must sustain those results,” he said.

Andalusia Health was one of only 13 hospitals in the state to earn an “A.” A total of 53 Alabama hospitals were included in the study, which did not include smaller hospitals like Mizell Memorial in Opp.

Alabama ranked 30th among states, with 24.5 percent of its hospitals earning “As.”

“Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, ‘have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

To see Andalusia Health’s full grade, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Andalusia Health is an acute care hospital licensed for 88 Acute Care beds. Andalusia Health is owned and operated by LifePoint Health. LifePoint Health is a proprietary hospital system based in Brentwood, Tenn.

Alabama hospitals earning
 ‘A’ for safety

• Andalusia Health
• Baptist Medical Center East (Montgomery)
• Citizens Baptist Medical Center (Talladega)
• DeKalb Rebional Medical Center (Fort Payne)
• Fayette Medical Center
• Medical Center Barbour (Eufaula)
• Prattville Baptist Hospital
• Russell Medical Center (Alex City)
• Russellville Hospital
• South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (Foley)
• Troy Regional Medical Center
• UAB Highlands
• University of Alabama Hospital (Birmingham)