Weslaco hospital in the top 5% in the Nation for Patient Safety
Weslaco, Texas – May 29, 2019 – Knapp Medical Center announced
today that it is a recipient of the “Healthgrades 2019 Patient Safety
Excellence AwardTM”. This distinction places Knapp Medical Center
among the top 5% of all short-term acute care hospitals reporting patient
safety data, as evaluated by Healthgrades, a leading online resource for
information about physicians and hospitals.
The recognition from Heathgrades, of Madison, Wisconsin, is the latest
achievement for Knapp Medical Center, which serves as the only acute care
hospital in the Mid-Valley area, with 227 beds.
Knapp Medical Center is a member of Prime Healthcare, one of the nation’s
largest hospital systems with 45 hospitals in 14 states. Prime Healthcare
has more Patient Safety Excellence Award recipients for four consecutive
years (2016-2019) than any other health system in the country.
“We are proud to recognize the recipients of the 2019 Healthgrades
Patient Safety Excellence Award, which shines a spotlight on the hospitals
that are preventing the occurrence
of serious, potentially avoidable complications, for patients during their
hospital stay,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades.
“We applaud these hospitals and their commitment to providing the
best possible care for every patient.”
During the study period (2015 to 2017), Healthgrades 2019 Patient Safety
Excellence Award recipient hospitals demonstrated excellent performance
in safety provided for patients in the Medicare population, as measured
by objective outcomes (risk-adjusted patient safety indicator rates) for
14 patient safety indicators defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ).
Rene J. Lopez, MD, FACHE, RRT, CEO for Knapp Medical Center, said the hospital’s
recognition is a testament to the work of physicians, nurses and other
healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing “the highest-quality
healthcare to residents of the Mid-Valley – every patient, every
time.”
“Being recognized by Healthgrades is a demonstration of the level
of commitment our physicians and employees have in ensuring that our patients
receive safe, high-quality, compassionate, and personalized care,”
Mr. Lopez added.
“At Knapp Medical Center, we are all committed to patient safety
and to creating an exceptional patient experience,” Mr. Lopez added.
“And, that includes ensuring we effectively communicate with our
patients, ensuring we are responsive to their needs, and ensuring we provide
a safe, quiet and clean environment during their stay with us.”
Healthgrades found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Patient
Safety Excellence Award were, as compared to patients at non-recipients
hospitals, on average*:
- 55.9% less likely to experience an accidental cut, puncture, perforation
or hemorrhage during medical care.
- 50.9% less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or
surgery in or around the chest.
- 64.4% less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in
the hospital.
- 57% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired
at the hospital.
In addition, if all hospitals in the country performed at the level of
award recipients for each of the 14 Patient Safety Indicators, 127,667
patient safety events could have been avoided.*
Anna Hinojosa, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer for Knapp, said the recognition
helps demonstrate the excellent care that is being provided to patients
at Knapp -- and is an important factor for residents to recognize when
they weigh their healthcare options.
“Knapp Medical Center’s clinical team works consistently to
pursue the highest standards for clinical excellence, and we are extremely
proud of this achievement,” Ms. Hinojosa added. “We at Knapp
Medical Center remain committed to the pursuit of patient-centered excellence
in all that we do.”
View Healthgrades hospital quality methodologies.
*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and
Excellence Award methodology which is based primarily on AHRQ technical
specifications (Version 5e and 2018) to MedPAR data for years 2015 through
2017 and represent 3-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
ABOUT KNAPP MEDICAL CENTER
Knapp Medical Center is an award-winning, not-for-profit hospital in Weslaco,
Texas. With 227 beds, the community hospital specializes in orthopedics,
emergency care, interventional radiology, wound care, obstetrics and gynecology,
gastroenterology, surgery, and critical care. Knapp is a Level III Trauma
Center and an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. The hospital has been providing
quality and compassionate healthcare to the Mid-Valley area of South Texas
since 1962. More than 200 physicians serve on the hospital’s medical
staff. In addition to the hospital, Knapp Medical Center operates a Family
Health Center in Mercedes, Texas along with the University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley. Knapp Medical Center also participates in health fairs
and hosts speakers on various health topics through its “Senior
Health Talks” series. For more information, please call 956-968-8567
or visit www.KnappMed.org and www.FaceBook.com/KnappMedicalCenter/.
Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco has received an excellence award for patient
safety from Healthgrades, a national firm which specializes in information
about hospitals. The distinction places Knapp among the top 5% of all
hospitals reporting patient safety data, as evaluated by Healthgrades.