From Hand Washing to Collapsed Lungs: Lexington Hospitals Receive Safety Report Cards

Lexington, Ky. – The latest safety grades from national watchdog group The Leapfrog Group have raised concerns about patient safety in Central Kentucky hospitals. The nonprofit organization recently released its spring patient safety ratings, revealing troubling issues such as death from serious treatable complications, collapsed lungs, and sepsis infections in several local hospitals.

Out of the seven Central Kentucky hospitals assessed, four saw a decline in their grades compared to the previous fall ratings. Baptist Health Lexington received the lowest score for handwashing among all hospitals, while several other hospitals in the area also scored below average in this category. Moreover, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Georgetown Community Hospital, and Clark Regional Medical Center all received the lowest score of 5 out of 100 for the metric “specially trained doctors care for (intensive care unit) patients,” making them the lowest-scoring hospitals in the entire country.

One of the major concerns highlighted by The Leapfrog Group was the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Central Kentucky hospitals. All seven hospitals in the region scored below average for at least one type of infection. These findings reflect a broader trend observed nationwide, with Leapfrog reporting a “dramatic spike” in HAIs and worsening patient experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

See how each of Lexington’s hospitals stacked up below.

1. Baptist Health Lexington: Maintaining Excellence with Room for Improvement
   • Spring 2023 grade: A
   • Scoring below average in various areas:
     • Infection in the urinary tract, surgical site infection after colon surgery, sepsis infection after surgery
     • Patient falls and injuries, falls causing broken hips, collapsed lung
     • Handwashing (Received the lowest score of 15 out of 100)
   • Emphasizing commitment to safe, quality care and continuous improvement
2. University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Hospital: Striving for Progress
   • Spring 2023 grade: C
   • Scoring below average in multiple metrics:
     • Infection in the blood, surgical site infection after colon surgery, sepsis infection after surgery
     • Dangerous object left in patient’s body, death from serious treatable complications
     • Blood leakage, kidney injury after surgery, serious breathing problem
     • Harmful events, dangerous bed sores, patient falls and injuries
   • Serving a complex patient population while focusing on quality and safety enhancements
3. University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital: Maintaining High Standards
   • Spring 2023 grade: C
   • Scoring below average in several areas:
     • MRSA infection, infection in the blood, sepsis infection after surgery
     • Dangerous object left in patient’s body, death from serious treatable complications
     • Blood leakage, kidney injury after surgery, serious breathing problem
     • Harmful events, dangerous bed sores, patient falls and injuries
   • Prioritizing compassionate, high-quality care for patients with continuous improvement efforts
4. Saint Joseph Hospital: Addressing Safety and Communication Challenges
   • Spring 2023 grade: C
   • Scoring below average in various areas:
     • Sepsis infection after surgery, blood leakage, kidney injury after surgery, serious breathing problem
     • Accidental cuts and tears, harmful events, dangerous bed sores, patient falls and injuries
     • Falls causing broken hips, collapsed lung, handwashing (Received a score of 70 out of 100)
     • Communication about medicines, specially trained doctors for ICU patients
     • Communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff
   • Focus on improvement efforts to provide quality and safe care for patients
5. Saint Joseph East: Striving for Excellence in Patient Care
   • Spring 2023 grade: C
   • Scoring below average in multiple categories:
     • MRSA infection, sepsis infection after surgery, death from serious treatable complications
     • Harmful events, dangerous bed sores, patient falls and injuries, collapsed lung
     • Handwashing (Received a score of 70 out of 100)
     • Communication about discharge, specially trained doctors for ICU patients
     • Communication with doctors, communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff
   • Dedication to improvement efforts and enhanced care through new electronic health records system

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Photo: South facade of the Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. (J654567/CC BY-SA 3.0)