University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton Earns Top Patient Safety Award from Healthgrades

University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton was recently named a top hospital in the country for Patient Safety, according to Healthgrades. Healthgrades’ 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award distinction focused on clinical performance and patient outcomes, and reflects the care and compassion of UM Shore Regional Health’s (UM SRH’s) care teams.

Healthgrades recognized 864 hospitals with its 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award. Hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were in the top 10 percent of hospitals based on 14 patient safety indicators from inpatient data. An analysis revealed patients treated at a recipient hospital were less likely to experience the following events:

• In-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture
• Collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest
• Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital
• Catheter-related bloodstream infections 

“The safety of the patients in our care is of the utmost importance to UM Shore Regional Health,” said Sherri Hobbs-Messick, MSM, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, Chief Quality, Safety and Experience Officer at UM SRH. “Receiving validation for the safe care we provide, from a top-ranked, external rating agency in the health care industry, helps affirm our efforts and drives us forward in our relentless pursuit of excellence and zero harm. It is because of our amazing care teams, who provide safe and compassionate care every day for our communities, that this recognition was achieved.” 

Healthgrades recognized five hospitals in Maryland with the Patient Safety Excellence Award, two of which (UM Shore Medical Center at Easton and UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center) are part of the University of Maryland Medical System.

“UM Shore Regional Health teams strive for excellence every day and patient safety is always top of mind. We are exceedingly proud of this very considerable recognition,” said Ken Kozel, President and CEO, UM Shore Regional Health. “This is a significant merit that UM SRH holds with less than 10 percent of hospitals in the United States. This distinction is made possible by our devoted team members and medical staff providers, who are caring and skilled individuals, and I am deeply grateful for their dedication to patient care and safety.”

Healthgrades awards tell medical consumers which hospitals throughout the country deliver superior quality care. Healthgrades objectively evaluates hospital performance using data related to important quality measures such as clinical outcomes and patient safety, as well as patient experience.