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Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was named a Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive.

The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers known as the toughest standard-setters for healthcare safety and quality. Top Hospitals will be honored tonight at the 2024 Leapfrog Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Nearly 2,400 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center received a Top Teaching Hospital distinction. A total of 134 Top Hospitals were selected, including:

• 8 Top Children’s
• 36 Top General
• 15 Top Rural
• 75 Top Teaching

“We are proud to be one of 134 hospitals nationwide to be recognized as a Leapfrog Top Hospital,” shares Philip Reber, Interim CEO at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. “We want the people of our community to feel confident in the safe, quality care provided by our hospital’s medical providers and team members, and this award reinforces that message.”

Earlier this year, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center was recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024; was named “High Performing” in Heart Attack, Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement Care by U.S. News & World Report and earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.

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," said Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Lakewood Ranch Medical Center 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 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, among the nation's elite in healthcare. 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.