SALISBURY — TidalHealth Peninsula Regional was, again, awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2024 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes the Salisbury hospital’s efforts in protecting patients from preventable harm and errors and providing safer healthcare.

TidalHealth Nanticoke improved significantly and is rated a “B,” narrowly missing an “A” in the Spring report.

TidalHealth, for three consecutive ratings periods, has been a recipient of the “A” grade at its Salisbury hospital. This spring, it is one of just 14 hospitals in Maryland to achieve an “A” and among only 29% of all hospitals in the United States to do so.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems that hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“Safety is foremost for all healthcare providers. Improving that rating at TidalHealth Nanticoke is an outstanding achievement in support of that mission. Achieving an ‘A’ rating—and doing it multiple times consecutively at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional — only happens because a team is dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach involving both clinical and non-clinical partners focused on improving processes to enhance exceptional care and safety,” said Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO of TidalHealth. “In addition to our providers and nurses, there are always key contributors at both hospitals like the pharmacy staff who provided input and leadership into reducing infections and our information technology team that is always crucial to our successes.”

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

“Everyone who works at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional should be proud of this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes complete dedication of at every level, and an ironclad commitment to putting patients first. I thank TidalHealth, its leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for caring so deeply for its patients and their safety.”

In other clinical recognition, Healthgrades announced TidalHealth Peninsula Regional as One of America’s 100 BEST Hospitals for Spine Surgery in 2024, placing it among the Top 10% in the Nation. In the same report, the Salisbury hospital was again named One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery: the only in Maryland. This is the tenth consecutive year earning that recognition.

At TidalHealth Nanticoke, the team was presented the Healthgrades Coronary Interventional Excellence Award, placing that service Top 10% in the Nation. TidalHealth Nanticoke was also honored again as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery and among the Top 10% in the Nation.