The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health care system, today released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide. Research Medical Center and Research Psychiatric Center are among the 823 hospitals to receive an “A” for their commitment to reducing errors, infections and accidents that can harm patients. Research Medical Center and Research Psychiatric Center, a campus of Research Medical Center, are part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider. This is the fourth consecutive year that Research Medical Center and Research Psychiatric Center have earned the top grade.

Five other HCA Midwest Health hospitals in the Kansas City area received an “A” grade, including Belton Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center and Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

“Our physicians and employees strive to provide the best care and service for every patient and their family,” says Research Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Jackie DeSouza-Van Blaricum. “This score makes us very proud because it means an independent organization recognizes our high-quality care, too.  Patients and their families choose us because our doctors and nurses are at the top of their professions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score is one measure of performance and to earn the highest quality grades among all hospitals is truly an honor. To have received straight ‘A’s’ since 2014 means that performance has been sustained over time, aligning with our mission to the care and improvement of human life above all.”

“Hospitals that earn top marks nationally in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade have achieved the highest safety standards in the country,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “That takes commitment from every member of the hospital staff, who all deserve thanks and congratulations when their hospitals achieve an ‘A’ Safety Grade.”

Developed under the guidance of an Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.

To see HCA Midwest Health hospitals’ full grades, and to access consumer-friendly patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade website or follow the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter or Facebook.

For more information on Research Medical Center and Research Psychiatric Center, visit the Research Medical Center website.