The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC) has received an "A" for patient safety in the latest Leapfrog Group report, announced the hospital on Thursday.
TBHC has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2015, when the facility was given an F-rating by Leapfrog, a national nonprofit healthcare ratings organization that grades more than 2,600 hospitals across the country.
"This A is really the culmination of a story we began in late 2015," said Gary G. Terrinoni, president and CEO of the 464-bed community hospital, the oldest in Brooklyn. "TBHC has invested millions of dollars to hire top doctors and specialists who have created new approaches to care and have ensured a quality environment for patients."
Since 2015, the hospital has implemented several initiatives and patient-safety practices to reduce the risk of infections and hospital-acquired conditions. TBHC started a new critical care initiative to improve outcomes for the sickest patients and overhauled its electronic health record system for better care coordination.
Additionally, a $23-million renovation of the hospital's emergency department is planned for early 2019.
"We are doing sound and savvy planning to keep Brooklyn healthy today and in the future," said Terrinoni. "And, we are thrilled to be celebrating our 175th anniversary in 2020. These achievements -- and, of course, this A -- give patients, the community and clinicians an excellent reason to take another look at TBHC."
TBHC is one of two A-rated hospitals in New York City, and the only one in Brooklyn; state-wide, only eight percent of hospitals were graded with an A. The average rating for patient safety in NYC hospitals is a C, according to Leapfrog.
