Quality Leadership

OSF Saint James Ranks in Top 9% Nationally in Hospital Survey

OSF Saint James - John W. Albrecht Medical Center has received notice that it scored 686.27 out of a possible 707 points on the 2008 Leapfrog Group National Quality Forum Safe Practices Survey. This score ranks OSF Saint James in the top 9% of 1205 hospitals reporting information as part of the survey. The survey is conducted annually.

The Leapfrog Group is a nationwide initiative driven by organizations that buy health care who are working to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality and affordability of health care for Americans. Launched in November 2000, Leapfrog is support by the Business Roundtable, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Leapfrog member organizations and others. The Leapfrog Group's growing consortium of major companies and other large private and public health care purchasers provide health benefits to more than 37 million Americans in all 50 states. Members have agreed to base their purchase of health care on principles that encourage quality improvement among providers and consumer involvement.

Some of the areas for which OSF Saint James voluntarily submits data are: creating and sustaining a culture of safety, life-sustaining treatment, informed consent, maintaining a strong nursing workforce, communication of critical information, labeling of diagnostic studies, discharge systems, medication reconciliation, aspiration and ventilator associated pneumonia prevention, bloodstream infection prevention, hand hygiene, deep vein thrombosis prevention, and anticoagulation therapy.

Joni Collins, Patient Safety Director at OSF Saint James, says "Creating an environment that results in safe and high quality care requires a relentless pursuit of excellence. At OSF Saint James, we never stop monitoring our care practices and outcomes, and we're always looking for opportunities for improvement. That shows in our 2008 survey results. We value feedback from employees, physicians and patients, and we're continually looking for ways to improve our processes. This is really a collective effort."