Study finds America’s worst hospitals getting worse

The worst-ranked hospitals in Michigan and across the United States have gotten significantly worse according to a new study by the nonprofit Leapfrog Group. The research was released at the end of 2019.

For the study, Leapfrog researchers analyzed data collected from 2,600 American hospitals beginning in 2016. They found that some of the worst hospitals in the country are getting even worse, increasing their patients’ risk of dying from preventable infections, safety errors and medical mistakes. They also graded all the hospitals from A to F based on their patient safety outcomes. Over 165 facilities received failing or near-failing grades, including St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York; Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan; and United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. On the other end of the scale, approximately one-third of the facilities received an A grade, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and OhioHealth Methodist Hospital in Dublin, Ohio. Meanwhile, around 25% of facilities received a B grade, and around 36% received a C grade.

The American Hospital Association disputed the study’s findings, claiming that its member hospitals have made improvements over the years. In addition, some of the facilities that received low grades argued that they treat more critically ill patients, which skewed the ratings. Leapfrog countered that the study factored the sickness level of patients into its grade assessments. The group has been rating hospitals since 2012.

Michigan patients who suffer harm as the result of medical mistakes might benefit from contacting an attorney about their case. If legal professionals determine that a doctor or hospital failed to provide the standard of care, the attorney may recommend filing a medical malpractice lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income and more. This might help the patient obtain a needed financial settlement to cover damages.