How does Jacksonville’s Wolfson fare in national children’s hospital rankings? (Courtesy of the Florida Times-Union) — Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville has been named one of the top eight children’s hospitals in the country by a national health care watchdog organization that evaluates patient safety and care quality.
The almost 70-year-old Wolfson was one of three health care facilities in Florida to make The Leapfrog Group’s Top Children’s Hospital list for 2023. The other two are Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Coral Terrace. Leapfrog does not rank them in any order.
The children’s hospital designation follows Leapfrog’s latest full-service hospital patient safety report that was released in November and gave “A” grades to seven of 14 hospitals in the Jacksonville area. As a specialty hospital, Wolfson was not included in the full-service rankings.
What does a top Leapfrog designation mean?
The recognized hospitals “demonstrate the highest performance in the nation on quality and patient safety, including infection rates, prevention of medication errors and surgical safety, among other standards,” according to Leapfrog. Top children’s hospitals must meet Leapfrog’s standards for physician staffing; “serious reportable events;” and Computerized Physician Order Entry, which handles inpatient medication orders, among other things. They also must meet at least 50% of Leapfrog’s 26 applicable safety measures and achieve or “make substantial progress” toward its “pediatric patient experience” standards.
The 281-bed Wolfson, founded in 1955, achieved all the standards, according to Leapfrog.
“This recognition is one of the toughest awards in the industry to earn, so the hospitals … that receive this award have demonstrated an incredible commitment to patient safety and their community,” said Leah Binder, Leapfrog’s president and CEO. “Wolfson Children’s has demonstrated that patient safety is their top priority.”
How can the public use the information?
The data behind the awards can educate the public “about the safety and quality of health care facilities in their community so they can choose the best place for their care,” according to Leapfrog. “When consumers have the opportunity to choose a hospital or surgery center in advance of a procedure, such as a newborn delivery or total joint replacement surgery, they are highly encouraged to consult Leapfrog’s facility ratings and speak with their doctor about the facilities available to them.”
When considering full-service hospitals, they are also encouraged to consult Hospital Safety Grades to “educate themselves on the safety of their local hospitals so they can be prepared if an emergency happens,” according to Leapfrog.
“In some hospitals, patient safety and high-quality are top priorities. Strong health care teams reduce infection rates, put checks in place to prevent mistakes and ensure strong lines of communication between hospital staff, patients and families,” according to Leapfrog. “But some hospitals trail behind.”
Medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., ahead of car accidents, breast cancer and HIV/AIDS, according to Leapfrog.
How did Wolfson respond to the top ranking?
“This designation is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our team members and providers,” Wolfson President Allegra Jaros said.
Those providers include Nemours Children’s Health Jacksonville, the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and Emergency Resources Group, a local physicians organization, she said.
“The award signals to our patients, families, medical staff, team members and community that the care provided at Wolfson … is among the best in the country,” he said. “It celebrates excellence in various areas, including patient experience, clinical quality, use of technology and electronic resources and avoiding adverse events. It’s another reason that Wolfson … is the apparent choice for outstanding pediatric care in our region.”
How has Wolfson Children’s Hospital done in the past?
The hospital also made Leapfrog’s Top Children’s Hospital rankings in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
What were the other top children’s hospitals?
In addition to Florida’s Wolfson, Golisano and Nicklaus, the list cited Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Valley Children’s Hospital, all in California; Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Tennessee; and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Network in Washington.
For more information, go to leapfroggroup.org/ratings-reports/top-hospitals.