St. Charles Parish Hospital earned an ‘A’ hospital safety grade from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that focuses on patient safety.
Leapfrog’s grading system evaluates hospitals on up to 30 national safety measures, including preventing medical errors, infections, injuries and accidents. The hospital received top ratings in several categories, including in error prevention, hand hygiene and nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.
Keith Dacus, CEO of St. Charles Parish Hospital, said the grade validates the hospital’s adherence to established safety protocols.
“For patients, it serves as an indicator that St. Charles Parish Hospital is one of the safest hospitals they can choose for their care,” Dacus said.
Dacus said the hospital has concentrated on several key areas over the past year, including infection control and staff education. Last year, the hospital opened its Education Center and Simulation Lab for clinical training, emergency preparedness and workforce development. The lab’s simulation technology provides hands-on training for healthcare professionals and first responders across the greater New Orleans region.
“While we are incredibly proud of our ‘A’ grade, patient safety is a journey, not a destination,” Dacus said. “We are always striving to improve and refine our safety metrics across the board.”
Leapfrog assigns grades to hospitals across the country using measures of patient safety, which are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. St. Charles Parish Hospital also received an A rating in 2024 and 2023.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our entire staff, who work together every day to make patient safety our top priority,” Dacus said. “We are honored to be recognized for the strong commitment we bring to protecting and caring for our patients. Our community can feel confident that they are receiving world-class, safe care right here at home.”
St. Charles Parish Hospital is a 49-bed facility managed by Ochsner Health.
Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank and Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner also received an ‘A’ rating this year from Leapfrog. Lakeside Hospital for Women in Metairie received a ‘C’ rating.