Norwich ― Backus Hospital has received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

The distinction recognizes Backus’s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The newly issued grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.

“I am so proud of the hard work, dedication and excellent care provided by all of our colleagues at Backus Hospital,” said Donna Handley, the Backus president. “The safety of our patients is the highest priority for everyone at Backus Hospital. This A grade from The Leapfrog Group reflects our team’s dedication and commitment to providing the best and safest care for the community.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns grades to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 national performance measures, including errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ 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.

For Backus’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.