UF Health Shands Hospital has received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that reports on safety and quality in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

The distinction celebrates UF Health Shands Hospital’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grade reflects performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.

“Receiving the top grade from Leapfrog speaks to the tremendous effort our caregivers put into the work they do,” said David R. Nelson, MD, senior vice president for health affairs at UF and president of UF Health. “Maintaining an exceptionally high level of quality and patient safety through an unprecedented pandemic speaks volumes about the dedication and skill of our health care providers.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated every fall and spring.

“Our caregivers work hard day in and day out to provide high-quality care to patients,” said Jim Kelly, interim CEO of UF Health Shands. “It’s truly an honor when that work is recognized by an organization like The Leapfrog Group.”

In addition, UF Health Shands Hospital’s recent scores have been strong on the computerized provider order entry, or CPOE, test — an important metric in the Leapfrog evaluation process. The test seeks to ensure that physicians are inputting electronic medication orders accurately.

“This achievement would not be possible without the expertise and commitment of our UF Health faculty and staff,” said Timothy Morey, MD, chief medical officer for UF Health Shands. “I also want to highlight the diligent efforts of our nursing program, UF Health Shands Chief Epidemiologist Nicole Iovine, MD, and UF Health Shands Chief Quality Officer Michele Lossius, MD, for spearheading the Leapfrog initiative and shining a light on the great work we are doing.”

UF Health’s grade bucked national patient safety trends as health care systems navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.