Greenwich Hospital Receives High Marks From National Nonprofit Watchdog

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Hospital received an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, according to Yale New Haven Health.

Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health Hospital and Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island also received "A" grades, while Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London earned a "B."

"At Greenwich Hospital, our responsibility to patient safety is deeply connected to our responsibility to the community we serve," said Greenwich Hospital President Bob Blenderman, in a news release. "This 'A' grade reflects the trust our region places in us every day and the extraordinary dedication of our physicians, nurses and staff to provide safe, reliable care close to home."

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns letter grades from "A" to "F" to general hospitals nationwide using evidence-based measures focused on preventable medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

"Earning top safety grades across our system reflects a deep and sustained commitment to protecting our patients from harm," said CEO of Yale New Haven Health Christopher O’Connor in a news release. "Safety is not a program at our hospitals — it is a foundational value that guides everyday actions, from infection prevention and medication safety to consistently following high-risk clinical protocols."

Yale New Haven Health said the grades reflect infrastructure, use of best practices and ongoing quality improvement efforts.

"High-reliability care depends on thousands of decisions made correctly every day," said Dr. Thomas Balcezak, who also serves as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Yale New Haven Health. "Our teams have hardwired patient safety into daily practice and these grades reflect their vigilance, teamwork and unwavering focus on quality."

The health system said it continues to prioritize patient safety initiatives, including fall prevention, reducing hospital-acquired infections, and preventing post-surgical complications.

"An 'A' grade is a strong sign that our hospitals are deeply committed to protecting patients from harm," said CEO of The Leapfrog Group Leah Binder. "We commend the leadership, board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction."

According to The Leapfrog Group, the Hospital Safety Grade program is updated twice annually and focuses solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries.