UNC REX Healthcare Earns 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award for Quality and Safety
UNC REX recognized as one of the nation’s top teaching hospitals in Leapfrog ranking
RALEIGH, N.C. – Dec. 17, 2019 – UNC REX Healthcare was named one of the country’s Top Hospitals for 2019 by the Leapfrog Group, a distinction achieved only by an elite group of hospitals that meet the nation’s highest standards for safety and quality.
Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors U.S. hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is awarded by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality.
About 2,100 hospitals were considered for the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. A total of 120 hospitals were selected as Top Hospitals. UNC REX was the only hospital in the Triangle on the list, and one of only a handful in North Carolina. UNC REX was recognized as one of 55 Top Teaching Hospitals across the country.
UNC REX has evolved from a community hospital serving mostly Raleigh and surrounding communities into a top regional medical center providing specialized care for patients from across Eastern North Carolina. UNC REX’s education initiatives include cardiology, vascular and urogynecology fellows; medical students who work with the Hospitalist team; and students studying nursing, pharmacy, radiology, EMT and more.
“UNC REX is honored to be recognized by Leapfrog as one of the nation’s top hospitals,” said Ernie Bovio, president of UNC REX. “I’m proud of our co-workers and physicians for providing excellent care for our patients and their families, and helping to train the next generation of clinical providers.”
The Top Hospital Award follows the news last month that UNC REX is the only hospital in North Carolina – and one of only 36 hospitals nationwide – to receive straight As since Leapfrog began grading hospitals for safety in 2012.
Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the Top Hospital award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.
“We are pleased to recognize UNC REX as a 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This demonstrates extraordinary dedication to patients and to the North Carolina community. We congratulate the board, staff and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible and know they share pride in this achievement.”
To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers in the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest known standards for quality and patient safety, and achieve top performance in its category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2019 Top Hospitals, visit leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.
About UNC REX Healthcare
For 125 years, UNC REX Healthcare has provided expert care for the Wake County community and surrounding areas. With more than 7,000 co-workers, UNC REX is a private, not-for-profit health care system and is a member of UNC Health Care. UNC REX provides various health care services throughout Wake County with facilities in Apex, Cary, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Wakefield and downtown Raleigh. To learn more, click here
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
