Nacogdoches, Texas, May 15, 2019 – For the eighth consecutive reporting period, Nacogdoches Medical Center, the hospital anchor of NMC Health Network, has earned an “A” grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to hospital performance improvements in the areas of quality and safety. NMC received the “A” rating in Leapfrog’s Spring 2019 Safety Score, demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality patient care.
NMC is the only hospital:
·         Within 100 miles to receive an A for the eighth consecutive reporting period,
·         And the only hospital within 70 miles with a current A grade.
“This eighth straight A rating recognizes our continuous commitment to placing safety at the forefront of our patients’ care,” said Chief Executive Officer, Philip Koovakada “This recognition and NMC’s success is a credit to our employees and their commitment to serve and compassionately care for each patient that walks through our doors. It is part of who we are as an organization because it is engrained in our culture.”
Not only a leader in East Texas, NMC is also one of a select number of hospitals nationally, to receive this top grade for patient safety.  The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score is a rating system designed to give consumers information they can use to make healthcare decisions for themselves or a loved one. The Leapfrog Group assigns A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals based on their ability to prevent errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Safety Grade uses 28 measures of available safety data to assign grades to approximately 2,500 U.S. hospitals twice per year. Designed to inform the public so that they can protect themselves and their families, the score is peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, finds that a hospital's safety score has life-or-death consequences for patients. Patients at a D hospital have a 50 percent higher risk of avoidable death than patients at an A hospital. The study concluded that more than 33,000 lives could be saved each year if all hospitals had the same performance as those, like NMC, who received an A.[1]
“This is the only national rating of how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm and death, such as medical errors, infections, and injuries,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Receiving an ‘A’ Safety Grade means a hospital is among the best in the country for preventing these terrible problems and putting their patients first, 24 hours a day.”
The staff of NMC Health Network are committed to the communities where they live and serve. They work tirelessly to care for their neighbors and friends each day, relentlessly pursuing the organization’s Mission: To serve, heal and educate the community. This passion for the health and wellbeing of our community has resulted in many other recent accomplishments including:
         Primary Stroke Center Certification and the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Checkmark for Primary Stroke Centers
·         The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Chest Pain and Total Joint Replacement
·         Commission on Cancer Accreditation through the American College of Surgeons
·         Level IV Trauma Center Designation and Level II Special Care Nursery Designation by The Texas Department of State Health Services
“We are so proud of each of these accomplishments, as they reflect the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said Rita Greenville, Director of Clinical Quality at NMC. “The health and safety of our patients is paramount. It is our responsibility and privilege to help our community live healthier and happier lives.”
To see Nacogdoches Medical Center’s full scores and to access consumer-friendly tips for patients and loved ones visiting the hospital, visit https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.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 devices.
About Nacogdoches Medical Center
Nacogdoches Medical Center is a 161-bed acute care facility located at 4920 NE Stallings Drive in Nacogdoches, TX. The hospital serves as the anchor of NMC Health Network and has provided for the medical and health care needs of East Texans for more than 40 years. Designed to improve access to healthcare services in Nacogdoches and Shelby counties and the surrounding communities, NMC specializes in emergency services, women’s health, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, open heart surgery, cancer care, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery. Extensions of the network include NMC Imaging Services, the Ambulatory Surgery Center of Nacogdoches, NMC Wound Care Services, NMC Loma Laird Cancer Center and NMC Shelby Emergency Services. NMC is recognized by the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about the facilities that comprise NMC Health Network, please visit http://www.nacmedicalcenter.com.
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.