Hi Northwest Arkansas mamas! We know you’re busy taking care of people, so we’re passing along some info you need to know as you watch over your family’s health. Did you know that an independent national nonprofit called The Leapfrog Group gives “medical grades” to hospitals across the country? These grades reflect the hospital’s focus on patient safety based on factors including errors, accidents, injuries, infections, and a hospital’s system for preventing these 
things.
We had no idea this kind of grading program even existed! And this is definitely something I’d want to know about before I chose a hospital for myself or anyone in my family. (Spread the word to your mama friends, too.) Mothers understand how important it is to find the best doctors, nurses, and surgeons when there’s a medical issue or an emergency in the family.
Recently we learned that Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville has earned an “A” in hospital safety from this watchdog group. Washington Regional is also considered a “Straight A” hospital because it has earned the highest grade for at least the past five consecutive grading periods. (Grades are published twice per year, in the fall and spring.)
Keep in mind that this grading system is the ONLY hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in our country. It is peer-reviewed, transparent and is also free to the public. If you’re helping to schedule medical treatment for yourself or someone you love, remember that you can ask hospital officials what grade the facility has earned and use that information to guide your decisions.
Click HERE to visit the nonprofit website that will allow you to search for grade information about any hospital.
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