Patient advocacy group says New Jersey hospitals are improving

A national survey showed New Jersey hospitals have improved their quality of care.

The Leapfrog Group, a patient advocacy organization, ranked New Jersey 15th best for protecting patients from harm.

Communications director Erica Mobley said that’s up from 22nd a year ago.

“What we’ve seen overall is an improvement in both the processes and procedures hospitals have in place to prevent errors and in the outcomes. So in things like infection rates, rates of blood clots, rates of air embolism, we’ve seen improvement across many hospitals.”

Mobley said 27 of the 68 hospitals evaluated earned an “A” rating.

“This is up from 25 that received an “A” back in the fall. So it’s good to see that some hospitals have improved and increased their grade. That makes the total percentage of “A” hospitals in New Jersey at just about 40 percent.”

Three hospitals received a “B.” None got a failing grade.

The ratings are based on 30 measures including infection rates, wound care, adequate nurse and physician staffing, and patient surveys.