Rating for fall 2021 ranks JPS among the top hospitals in the United States, culminating years of work to improve patient outcomes and hospital efficacy
November 10, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas — JPS Health Network has earned a coveted “A” rating for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group for fall 2021, a monumental achievement in the world of healthcare. This is the first time in its long history that JPS Health Network has earned an “A” grade, marking a high point in years of effort to improve patient care, safety, quality, and experience.
“Despite all the challenges of the pandemic and everything else that comes the way of a public hospital, the people of JPS have pushed forward the quality of care in Tarrant County,” said Robert Earley, President and CEO of JPS Health Network. “This grade represents the dedication 7,200 JPS team members have to improving healthcare in the community they serve. And we are so proud of that.”
The Leapfrog Group’s nationally-recognized Hospital Safety Grade ranking evaluates hospitals nationwide on criteria representing a hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Survey results are released every spring and fall.
The “A” grade denotes JPS as a national leader in improving the patient and family experience, improving the quality and outcomes of population health, and improving access to care.
“There’s been tremendous buy-in from our clinical leaders, our physicians and nurses and the entire hospital staff to get to this result,” said Dr. G. Robert Stephenson, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for JPS Health Network. “We’ve managed to improve our performance in so many areas of care, and this grade shows we are yielding great results for our patients.”
Dr. Stephenson noted that JPS is now achieving top-notch ratings for patients treated for heart failure, pulmonary issues, strokes, and sepsis. He also pointed out the JPS “A” grade has emerged under the most difficult of circumstances for any hospital.
“The whole rating is seriously stacked against hospitals that take care of patients with poor social determinants of health... and that is the situation here all the time. When you’re taking care of a complex population, it’s much harder.”
JPS turns in a lengthy voluntary survey as one major source of data, with the rest gathered from federal databases, survey data, and patient satisfaction scores. Lucy Semple, Manager of Clinical Quality for JPS, coordinates the shared information for the bi-annual survey. “We’ve come a long way,” Semple said.
JPS began participating in The Leapfrog Group surveys in 2015 and initially earned a “D” grade, which is not uncommon for public hospitals. Semple added, “This is true work that we’ve been putting in for years, and it shows in the data.”
About JPS Health Network:
The Tarrant County Hospital District, known as JPS Health Network, is a tax-supported organization serving the healthcare needs of families in Tarrant County. Home to Tarrant County’s only Level I Trauma Center, JPS provides adult inpatient care at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas and offers comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy at more than 25 community locations. JPS Health Network is governed by an 11-member Board of Managers, whose members are appointed by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. JPS was named the Best Hospital for America by Washington Monthly magazine and the Lown Institute in 2020, and Outstanding Healthcare System by D CEO Magazine.
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