Again, Loma Linda University Health Hospitals Among the Best in the U.S.

By: Briana Pastorino, Loma Linda University Health

Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital was named a Top Children’s Hospital for the second year in a row, and Loma Linda University Medical Center — East Campus received its inaugural recognition as a Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization. Announced yesterday, the Leapfrog Top Hospital awards are widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive.

Among 2,600 hospitals in the country, LLU Children’s Hospital was one of only 13 children’s hospitals in the U.S. and one of two hospitals in California to be recognized by The Leapfrog Group; and LLU Medical Center — East Campus was one of 53 Top Teaching Hospitals recognized in the country during a ceremony on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

Scott Perryman, senior vice president/administrator for LLU Children’s Hospital, said it is a privilege to have received this award.

“This designation as a Top Children’s Hospital highlights our consistent commitment to patient safety and quality,” Perryman said. “The patient families we serve invest a tremendous amount of trust in the care we provide, and we feel privileged to have received this award. This recognition would not be possible without our committed clinical team of pediatricians, surgeons, sub-specialists, nurses, and child life specialists for all they do to keep the mothers and children of the Inland Empire healing, healthy, and happy.”

Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing qualification for the award, including infection rates, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

Home to several specialties, including rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery, and family medicine, LLU Medical Center — East Campus earned the Top Teaching Hospital designation from Leapfrog for the first time.

Jonathan Jean-Marie, vice president/administrator for LLU Medical Center — East Campus, accepted the award on behalf of the hospital at the celebration event.

“In addition to providing top-quality care, we pride ourselves on teaching the next generation of clinicians,” Jean-Marie said. “It is the goal of our faculty to instill excellence, integrity, and compassion to the residents and fellows who come to us for their training.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must submit a Leapfrog Hospital Survey and achieve the highest performance in its category. The selection of Top Hospitals 2018 is based on surveys from nearly 1,900 hospitals.

The original version of this story appears on the Loma Linda University Health news page.