Georgia hospitals treat over 5 million patients a year and these facilities can contribute over $15 billion to the collective communities, says The Kaiser Family Foundation.

These numbers underscore why the choice of hospital really counts and making the right choice for hospitalization can be a major determinant in your health and safety.

What do the ratings measure?

The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit watchdog organization that monitors the healthcare industry, “serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care.”

Leapfrog consults an expert panel and uses up to 30 national performance markers to come up with the grades for area healthcare facilities.

Leapfrog Hospital Survey

This survey measures the following criteria:

Healthcare safety practices: hand hygiene, nursing workforce, safety culture, leadership and teamwork,

Safe surgical volume for high-risk surgeries

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

Occurrence of “never events:” a serious, unambiguous, and preventable medical error that should never happen and results in patient death or significant disability

Use of bar code technology: reduction of medication errors

The most unsafe hospitals in GAColumbus

Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital – C

Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown – C

Macon

Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center – C

Piedmont Macon Medical Center – C

Atlanta

Emory University Hospital – C

Emory University Hospital Midtown – C

Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation – C

Northside Hospital Atlanta – C

St. Mary’s Health Care System – C

Savannah

Memorial Health University Medical Center – C

St. Joseph’s Hospital – F

Other areas of Georgia

Dodge County Hospital, Eastman – C

East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Statesboro – C

Emory Decatur Hospital, Decatur – C

Emory Hillandale Hospital, Lithonia – C

Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Johns Creek – C

North Fulton Medical Center, Roswell – C

Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainseville

Northeast Georgia Medical Center – Habersham, Demorest – C

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, Braselton – C

Northside Hospital Cherokee, Canton – C

Northside Hospital Duluth, Duluth – C

Northside Hospital Gwinnett, Lawrenceville – C

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany – C

Piedmont Eastside Medical Center, Snellville – C

Southeast Georgia Health System – Brunswick Campus, Brunswick – C

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital, Lavonia – C

Stephens County Hospital, Toccoa – C

Tanner Medical Center of Carrollton, Carrolton – C

Union General Hospital, Blairsville – C

Wayne Memorial Hospital, Jesup – C

Wellstar MCG Health, Augusta – C

When you’re sick and need medical care, it’s good to know how your local hospital measures up. Georgia’s facilities vary widely from region to region, but, if possible, you should always check the rating before seeking care.

Have you had any experience with any of these hospitals? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

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