Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center has been awarded an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, in the organization’s Hospital Safety Grades for fall 2020.

The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care and provides the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. healthcare system.

“Piedmont Athens Regional is very proud to receive an A grade once again,” said Michael Burnett, chief executive officer (CEO) of Piedmont Athens Regional. “Our staff, though stressed and tested in unimaginable ways due to the pandemic, is more committed and resilient than ever, and this amazing accomplishment is a testament to that!”

Piedmont Athens Regional was awarded an ‘A’ for its efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards. It also was also the only facility in Georgia named a Top Teaching Hospital by Leapfrog in 2018.

Since joining Piedmont Healthcare in 2016, Piedmont Athens Regional has made continuous strides to improve its quality, safety and service initiatives. Prior to receiving its first A grade in fall 2018, Piedmont Athens Regional had gone a span of four years without receiving an A.

“The safety of our patients is our top priority, and earning this top grade demonstrates our continued commitment of providing high-quality, patient-centered care and to making a positive difference in every life we touch,” said Burnett. 

Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to approximately 2,600 hospitals in the United States twice per year. It is peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Piedmont Athens Regional. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”

To see Piedmont Athens Regional’s full score and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org. For additional information about Piedmont Athens Regional’s quality measures, visit piedmont.org/quality.