Nearly 2,400 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Iredell Memorial Hospital received a general distinction. A total of 134 Top Hospitals were selected, including: eight Top Children’s, 36 Top General, 15 Top Rural, and 75 Top Teaching.
The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the 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.
“Protecting patients from preventable harm is central to The Leapfrog Group’s mission,” Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said. “Iredell Memorial Hospital has set the standard for patient safety, earning the prestigious distinction of a Top Hospital. This elite honor reflects the exceptional efforts of the entire team and places Iredell Memorial Hospital among the nation’s elite in health care. Congratulations to all who made this remarkable achievement possible.”
To qualify for the distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety and achieve top performance in their category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2024 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.