How Safe Is Your Hospital? Survey Finds More Than A Third Of California Hospitals Earn 'C' Grade Or Worse
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - If you've been afraid of needles since you were a child then the idea of surgery is probably downright terrifying. Fortunately for Bay Area residents, many of California's best scoring hospitals for avoiding preventable medical errors among patients are right here in the Bay Area.
The latest Hospital Safety Score finds that the rest of the state isn't as fortunate. According to the Los Angeles Times, 37 percent of California hospitals on the survey earned grades of C, D, or F in the most recent findings, which are compiled twice annually. The survey found that prescriptions and surgical errors have dipped in recent years, while the level of infections and errors has remained fairly steady.
The grades are generated from Leapfrog Hospital survey data which uses information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical oversight agencies. Here's a breakdown of the methodology.
As you might expect, San Francisco and Los Angeles have the highest density of A rated agencies in the state, with more rural areas like Humboldt County sitting more than two hours drive from a top scoring facility on the list.
Interactive Map: Find Hospital Scores Near You
The producers of the survey say some facilities were not included for reasons such as small patient sample size or reporting exemption. Further, they say the grades are not indeed to serve as an endorsement for any of the hospitals listed.
"We do not offer advice regarding the quality or suitability of any particular hospital for specific treatments or health conditions, and no information on this website should be construed as health or medical advice," reads the disclaimer from the study's producer.
In all 248 hospitals were surveyed, with 43 percent receiving an A rating.
