Belton, MO - Belton Regional Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Belton Regional Medical Center’s achievements providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients.

Belton Regional Medical Center is part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider.

“Patient safety is the fundamental aspect of hospital care,” says Belton Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Todd Krass. “Now more than ever, patients and their families want to know that their hospital is a safe, healing environment for COVID-19 patients and those with other healthcare needs. Belton Regional Medical Center has develop measures to keep our patients and staff safe. We are grateful for what this recognition means for our team and community.”

Belton Regional Medical Center has implemented important protocols and guidelines to ensure the safety of its patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • Screening for all patients, visitors and staff before entering facilities.
  • Separate areas and dedicated staff for non-COVID-19 positive patients, as well as outpatient and patients with scheduled procedures. These patients are treated in designated, separate areas and assigned caregivers who are not caring for COVID-19 positive patients during their shift.
  • All caregivers and employees wear masks throughout all areas of the hospital and care sites, per CDC guidelines.
  • Heightened infection prevention policies, including the removal of high-touch items such as magazines and toys. Food and drink are prohibited in clinical units to prevent the spread of illness.

“As the country copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and healthcare workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We hope this ‘A’ helps to thank the people who work and volunteer for Belton Regional Medical Center. They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.”

Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 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.

To see Belton Regional Medical Center’s full ‘A’ grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

tags: covid-19