Sebasticook Valley Health (SVH) is the first hospital in Maine to be recognized five years in a row for quality excellence by a national organization: on December 2nd, SVH received “Top Rural Hospital in Maine” honors by The Leapfrog Group, which is based in Washington, DC. The Leapfrog Group has recognized SVH for its outstanding success in infection rates, safety practices, mortality rates for common procedures, and measures of efficiency since 2010. The announcement was made at Leapfrog’s Annual Symposium in Washington, DC.
“I am proud Leapfrog continues to recognize SVH by awarding us our fifth “Top Rural Hospital” award, which recognizes SVH’s employee commitment to provide high quality care and service by providers, clinicians and support personnel,” stated Terri Vieira, SVH President/CEO and EMHS Senior Vice President. “This recognition underscores our shared commitment with EMHS to the importance of providing high quality patient care safely and efficiently.”
“Leapfrog’s Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious distinctions any hospital can achieve in the United States. It recognizes institutions for their excellence in quality of care and patient safety, as well as their commitment to transparency. By achieving Top Hospital status, SVH has proven it’s a premier institution and deserves to be recognized for its dedication to the families and patients in Sebasticook Valley,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.
SVH was one of 94 Top Hospitals recognized nationally. The list includes 24 top rural hospitals, 61 top urban hospitals, and nine top children’s hospitals. Among the hospitals reaching this achievement are academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, and community hospitals in rural, suburban and urban settings.
According to information provided by The Leapfrog Group, SVH was selected using a combination of quality and resource use – with quality weighted heavier. The Leapfrog Group is a voluntary reporting program that recognizes and rewards U.S. health care groups for safety, quality and customer value. The questions Leapfrog asks on its survey are consistent with measures used by The Joint Commission, National Quality Forum and Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sebasticook Valley Health has been accredited by the Joint Commission since 2002, and in 2013, SVH was recognized by The Joint Commission as a top performer nationally in key quality measures.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Yarbrough at 487.4024. SVH comprises a state-of-the-art 25-bed critical access hospital and a wide range of outpatient services throughout the region. SVH is a member of Eastern Maine Healthcare System (EMHS).