December 17 2019 – Gulf Coast Medical Center has been named a “Top Teaching Hospital” nationally by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization focused on health care quality and safety. Over 2,100 hospitals were considered for a Top Hospital Award, and Gulf Coast Medical Center is one of just 120 hospitals in the country to earn this recognition. The hospital is one of three top teaching hospitals in Florida and the only Leapfrog top hospital in Southwest Florida.
Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.
“Patient safety is our top priority, and we are honored to be named among the very best hospitals in the entire country,” said Dr. Jon Velez, vice president of operations and chief physician executive at Gulf Coast Medical Center. “We are committed to meeting the needs of our community, and as we continue to grow, residents and visitors alike can be certain they are receiving the best possible care when they come through our doors.”
The Top Hospital Award comes on the heels of Gulf Coast Medical Center’s “A” Hospital Safety Grade earlier this year. The Leapfrog Group issues their safety grades twice per year, and all Lee Health adult hospitals earned straight A’s on both 2019 report cards.
“We are pleased to recognize Gulf Coast Medical Center as a 2019 Leapfrog Top Hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This demonstrates extraordinary dedication to patients and to the Southwest Florida community. We congratulate the board, staff and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible and know they share pride in this achievement.”
To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers in the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest known standards for quality and patient safety, and achieve top performance in its category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2019 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.
About Lee Health
Since the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Staffed by caring people, inspiring health, services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.LeeHealth.org.
