Atlanta (Dec. 14, 2020) – Seven Piedmont Healthcare hospitals were awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Piedmont’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

Piedmont accounted for nearly one-third of the hospitals in Georgia receiving A grades (seven of 24). Piedmont’s anchor of “Quality, Safety, Service” sits at the center of its strategic focus. Regarding service, Leapfrog metrics include communication with nurses, doctors and staff, among others.

“Piedmont’s purpose is to make a positive difference in every life we touch and our record on quality and safety, as reflected in our Leapfrog scores, shows that we are delivering on that purpose,” Piedmont Healthcare President and CEO Kevin Brown said. “Our success on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade reflects years of relentless focus from everyone in our entire organization. Quality, Safety and Service drive better outcomes for our patients, greater patient satisfaction, and ultimately lower healthcare costs. There is no doubt that our improvements in quality have contributed to our success in managing rising healthcare costs.”

Piedmont hospitals receiving an A grade are:

• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, the system’s largest hospital has received five A grades in the past six terms.
• Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, which received its third A grade in the past five terms and was named a Top Teaching Hospital by Leapfrog in 2018.
• Piedmont Columbus Regional-Northside Campus, which, since joining the Piedmont system on March 1, 2018, has received five consecutive A grades.
• Piedmont Henry Hospital, reflecting concerted improvement on patient safety under Lily Henson, the hospital’s CEO and former chief medical officer.
• Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, which has received 11 straight A grades.
• Piedmont Newnan Hospital, which has received 12 straight A grades.
• Piedmont Newton Hospital, which has received an A grade in seven of the past nine terms.

During the pandemic, Piedmont, in following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has redoubled its commitment to patient safety through a multitude of ways: visitor restrictions at its hospitals, mobile waiting rooms at clinic offices, and making major innovations and investments to telehealth for vulnerable patients, among many others. To get through the pandemic, Piedmont asks Georgians to mask up, keep your distance and wash your hands.

As indicated above by the geographic diversity of the hospitals receiving A grades, Piedmont serves communities that comprise 70 percent of Georgia’s population. During 2020, the COVID-19 has inspired acts of care, love and kindness from the communities, businesses and individuals it touches across Georgia. Piedmont keeps on caring, in part, because of the communities who keep on caring for Piedmont. #KeepCaringOn

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. To see Piedmont’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.