How safe are Wichita hospitals? See new ratings on errors, staffing and practices
A national watchdog organization recently released its fall 2024 hospital safety grades rating Wichita hospitals on multiple safety metrics including infections, hospital staff, practices to prevent errors and more.
Grades can range from A to F, but all Wichita hospitals got either an A or a B. Two Wichita hospitals got lower grades compared to their spring scores, while one hospital saw an improved score.
Looking at the entire state of Kansas, the state ranked 31st in hospital safety, with 25.8% of hospitals getting an A grade. The state with the most A hospitals is Utah, where 60.7% of hospitals earned the top grade.
Leapfrog’s scores are to “educate consumers and purchasers about the safety and quality of healthcare facilities in their community so they can choose the best place for their care,” according to its website.
Leapfrog comes up with the grades by analyzing data provided by the hospitals and national performance measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as the Leapfrog Hospital Survey and other supplemental data sources. The organization works under the oversight of a panel made up of experts from Harvard University, John Hopkins University School of Nursing, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University and more to develop the methodology in scoring.
For more information on your hospital’s performance in other aspects, like patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness, search the facility’s name on the Medicare website’s care to compare. In addition, U.S. News and World Report releases rankings based on hospitals’ performance in a variety of medical specialties and common procedures.
Here’s what to know about how Wichita hospitals scored on the fall Leapfrog ratings.
Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa
14800 St. Teresa St.
Leapfrog fall 2024 grade: B
Spring 2024 grade: B
Fall 2023 grade: C
St. Teresa scored below average on five different topics across three categories.
In the infections category, St. Teresa scored below average in C. diff infection, infection in the urinary tract and sepsis infection after surgery. In the practices to prevent errors category, the hospital scored below average in communication about medicines. In the staffing category, the hospital scored below average in nursing and bedside care for patients.
St. Teresa scored above average on 13 topics across five categories.
“We are prioritizing targeted improvements and focusing on areas where we can make the most impact. While the Leapfrog Group’s assessment is one of several valuable perspectives on performance, we appreciate their insights and are committed to achieving measurable progress by the next review period,” an Ascension Via Christi spokesperson told The Eagle about all of its hospitals.
Wesley Woodlawn Hospital & ER
2610 N. Woodlawn Blvd.
Leapfrog fall 2024 grade: B
Spring 2024 grade: A
Fall 2023 grade: A
Wesley Woodlawn scored below average on eight topics across two different categories.
In the practices to prevent errors category, the hospital scored below average in communication about medicines, communication about discharge and staff work together to prevent errors. In the staffing category, the hospital scored below average in effective leadership to prevent errors, nursing and bedside care for patients, specially trained doctors care for ICU patients, communication with doctors and responsiveness with hospital staff.
Wesley Woodlawn scored above average in 15 different topics across four categories.
The Eagle reached out to Wesley Healthcare for a statement on its hospitals’ safety scores but has not yet received a response.
Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph
3600 E. Harry St.
Leapfrog fall 2024 grade: B
Spring 2024 grade: A
Fall 2023 grade: A
St. Joseph scored below average in five topics across three different categories.
In the infections category, St. Joseph scored below average on treating MRSA infections. In the safety problems category, the hospital scored below average on patient falls and injuries, falls causing broken hips and collapsed lung. In the staffing category, the hospital scored below average on nursing and bedside care for patients.
The hospital scored above average on 16 topics across all categories.
Wesley Medical Center
550 N. Hillside St.
Leapfrog fall 2024 grade: A
Spring 2024 grade: B
Fall 2023 grade: A
The hospital scored below average on seven topics across two different categories.
When it comes to practices to prevent errors, the hospital scored below average in communication about medicines, communication about discharge and staff working together to prevent errors. In the staffing section, Wesley Medical Center scored below average in effective leadership to prevent errors, nursing and bedside care for patients, communication with doctors and responsiveness with hospital staff.
The hospital scored above average in 19 topics across five categories.
Ascension Via Christi St. Francis
929 St. Francis
Leapfrog fall 2024 grade: A
Spring 2024 grade: A
Fall 2023 grade: A
This hospital scored below average on six topics in two different categories.
In the safety problem category, St. Francis scored below average in patient falls and injuries, falls causing broken hips, and collapsed lungs. In the staffing category, the hospital scored below average in nursing and bedside care for patients.
The hospital scored above average on 15 different topics across all five categories.
“These results are a reflection of the dedication and skill of our caregivers who prioritize safe, compassionate care for all and underscore our successes and areas of growth as we continue to fulfill our Mission of providing high-quality care,” a Via Christi spokesperson said. “Patient safety remains central to our Mission, and we are actively implementing strengthened safety protocols and quality measures to enhance our care.”
