One of the things contributing to an area’s desirability as a place to live is quality of medical care. Not so long ago, it was common for relocated residents of Florida to seek treatment from doctors in more “cutting-edge” cities (usually their previous hometowns) when they needed advanced and sophisticated care.
But those times have changed for the better. Recently, seven of the eight hospitals serving the Treasure Coast received A or B grades for safety by The Leapfrog Group, which calls itself a watchdog of patient safety and quality in hospitals. That’s a far cry from just six months ago when three of the eight were graded C.
Sebastian River Medical Center went from an F rating just a year ago to an A – an impressive improvement. Statewide, 32-percent of Florida’s 2,600 hospitals were awarded the coveted A rating, 26-percent earned a B; 36-percent a C; 6-percent a D and slightly less than 1-percent, an F.
Leapfrog’s semiannual Hospital Safety Guide assigns letter grades based on patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Error rates are taken from reports each hospital makes to Medicare.
Other area hospitals and their ratings are:
- Jupiter Medical Center – A
- Cleveland Clinic/Martin North – B
- Cleveland Clinic/Tradition – B
- Cleveland Clinic/Indian River Medical Center – B
- Cleveland Clinic/Martin South – C
- St. Lucie Medical Center – A
- Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute – B
Although no hospital is perfectly safe, residents of the Treasure Coast can feel confident that our level of care has improved.
If you or a loved one does have a negative or problematic experience, we’re here to help. Contact me at GloriaLaw.com or at 772-287-1220.
