Silver Cross Awarded 17^th Straight A for Safety 

Grade reflects top national performance on patient safety through COVID-19 pandemic

Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for spring 2023, making it the 17^th straight A that Silver Cross has earned for patient safety. Silver Cross is one of only 49 hospitals in the U.S. and one of only seven hospitals in Illinois to earn 17 straight A’s since spring 2015.

Leapfrog is a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates Silver Cross Hospital’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.

“Earning our 17^th Straight A for Patient Safety is a testament to our entire Silver Cross Hospital team’s unrelenting focus on safety for every patient every time,” said Ruth Colby, Silver Cross President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our A grade for spring 2023 is especially significant as it reflects our efforts during the height of COVID-19. Despite the many challenges the pandemic presented to hospitals everywhere, our Silver Cross employees, Medical Staff and volunteers always put safety first for our patients, our visitors and for each other. I couldn’t be prouder of and more grateful for their heroic efforts.” 

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“This new update of Hospital Safety Grades shows that, at the national level, we saw deterioration in patient safety with the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “But this hospital received an ‘A’ despite those challenges. I congratulate all the leaders, staff, volunteers and clinicians who together made that possible.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

To see Silver Cross Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook and via its newsletter.