Richland County, SC (WLTX) - If you want to get the safest health care possible, it is important to do some research about where you might be having your next surgery or procedure.
The most recent safety scores for the hospitals across the country were released by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, which is a non-profit organization that scores hospitals on how safe they keep patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. From "A" to "F," some hospitals do not always make the grade.
Here in the Midlands, only one hospital was ranked with an "A" grade this fall: Lexington Medical. Lexington Medical's score went up since the spring when they scored a "B."
Leapfrog estimates 206,021 avoidable deaths occur in U.S. hospitals each year, which means more than 33,000 lives could be saved if all hospitals performed like "A" graded hospitals.
On average, Midlands hospitals scored in the "B" to "C" range.
Providence Health scored a "C." While they scored higher in categories like safety, they scored lower in infections and communication. Palmetto Health Baptist and Palmetto Health Richland also scored a "C." The hospital measured above average in problems with surgery, but below average in infections.
The Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties had a failing grade with low scores in all five categories.
Why do these scores matter? These scores can help determine what hospital you choose to go to, because, remember, it is your choice where you decide to receive care. You can also reduce chances for errors on your next hospital stay by being informed and aware.
Overall this fall 32 percent of hospitals earned an "A" and less than 1 percent earned an "F."
In a statement, Lexington Medical Center tells News 19:
Palmetto Health's Chief Clinical Officer Mark Williams said in response to the rankings:
For more information on these rankings and other hospital scores, click here.