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 spring 2021.

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, are 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 was also the only facility in Georgia named a Top Teaching Hospital by Leapfrog in 2018.

“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 up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

“An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, but Piedmont Athens Regional shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.”

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.