UMMC gets F from watchdog group; other hospitals graded

One of the state's top hospitals, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has been issued a failing grade on a national patient safety report card.

Out of the 33 hospitals rated in the state, UMMC was the only hospital to receive an F rating. The Hospital Safety Score is run by the independent, nonprofit hospital watchdog, The Leapfrog Group. The score was issued for the fall 2015 reporting period.

Grades were based on five categories: Safety problems with surgery; Staff follows steps to make surgery easier; Infections and safety problems;Right staffing to prevent safety problems; and Hospital Uses Standard Safety Procedures.

The Leapfrog Group relies on hospitals voluntarily filling out surveys. If a hospital declines or there is not enough information provided, The Leapfrog Group pulls data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

UMMC voluntarily provided The Leapfrog Group with criteria for the Hospital Uses Standard Safety Procedures. Other data was pulled from CMS and comparing hospitals, according to the report.

Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said the report revealed "disturbing" and "really bad things."

On eight of the 13 criteria, UMMC scored "well below the national average," Binder said.

Dr. Michael Henderson, UMMC's chief medical officer, a surgeon by trade, said UMMC is the "safety net" hospital in Mississippi, treating the "sickest of the sick."

While he questioned parts of the risk assessment on the score, Henderson attributed the failing grade, in part, to the high volume of UMMC trauma patients.

"The bit I worry about is patients being led down the wrong path is seeing an 'F' and thinking 'I won't go there' and that’s not right," Henderson said. "The care here is good, great in most areas, can we do better in prevention, some of the complications, yes every hospital can ...We're taking stuff that other hospitals in the state can't or don't want to manage. That’s our role, that’s our mission, that’s what we want to do."

He added, "That is why you see higher numbers for us. I’m not making excuses, I’m saying there's still work to do."

"Trauma is the dominant part of that work, so you are going to see more of these complications. Should we be down, or closer or next to the national? You betcha. That’s what I’m headed for."

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid collected data from July 2011 until June 2013 on "Dangerous objects left in body." The average hospital scored .03. UMMC scored .238.

"There are a good number of 'never' events that are happening at this hospital," Binder said. "Things that should never, ever happen. Objects left in after surgery, wounds split after surgery — some of these are substantially below the national average."

UMMC scored below average in six out of six classifications in the "Safety problems with surgery" category. The average hospital score was .39 under the "Collapsed lung" category. UMMC scored .54.

Under "Death from treatable serious complications," UMMC scored 142.77. The average hospital scored 118.15.

Under "Right staffing to prevent safety problems," UMMC received a below-average grade on three of the five criteria, including effective leadership to prevent errors and training to improve safety.

However, it scored above average under "Specially trained doctors care for ICU patients" and "Enough qualified nurses," bringing its staffing score to a 100. The average hospital scored 36.89.

UMMC has declined in the group's ratings for the past two years, according to data released by the group.

The hospital received a C rating in spring and fall 2012 as well as spring 2013. In fall 2013, UMMC slipped to a D rating. It held steady until this fall.

Binder said UMMC was "transparent" in its reporting. With that in mind, Binder said she is confident UMMC will work to increase its score.

"They are transparent," she said. "They report this data complete, and they’re open about whether it’s good or bad, and I think it’s a really good sign the community should be assured by. You can't solve a problem if you can't admit you have it. Safety is not expensive. Safety is about putting the patient first 24 hours a day by all staff every minute of every day. Given their level of transparency, I am hopeful that the CEO has put safety as the number one item .. .People in the community are getting hurt unnecessarily.There are lots of injuries and tragedies in these numbers. I know the community will come together to change this."

She added, "This score is not about pointing fingers, it's about alerting communities and individuals when there is an issue they need to pay attention to."

Henderson said patient safety is the top priority at UMMC.

"The goal is zero preventable harm," Henderson said. "To me it's not about getting an "A" or an 'F.' It is are we a constantly improving the outcomes for the patient population as a whole? ... I’m not going to work just to the test. I’m going to work to improve care."

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or (601) 961-7303. Follow @FowlerSarah on Twitter.

Mississippi hospital ratings by The Leapfrog Group:

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle: A

Singing River Health System: C

Gilmore Memorial Regional Health Center: C

Magnolia Regional Health Center: C

North Mississippi Medical Center- West Point: B

Rush Foundation Hospital: C

Anderson Regional Medical Center: C

North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo: B

Ocean Springs Hospital: C

OCH Regional Medical Center: D

Biloxi Regional Medical Center: A

Baptist Memorial Hospital of Union County: A

Garden Park Medical Center: C

Memorial Hospital at Gulfport: C

South Central Regional Medical Center: D

Forrest General Hospital: C

Merit Health Wesley: B

Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi: A

Highland Community Hospital: C

Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto: C

River Oaks Hospital: B

St. Dominic–Jackson Memorial Hospital: C

University Hospitals and Health Systems, University of Mississippi Medical Center: F

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center: C

Greenwood Leflore Hospital: C

Central Mississippi Medical Center: C

King’s Daughter Medical Center: B

Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center: C

Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center: A

Bolivar Medical Center: B

Merit Health River Region: C

Delta Regional Medical Center: D

Natchez Regional Medical Center: D