The Leapfrog Group names Wolfson Children’s Hospital as one of eight Top Children’s Hospitals in the nation

PRESS RELEASE
December 17, 2021

Jacksonville, Florida, December 7, 2021 – Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Wolfson Children’s Hospital was named a Top Children’s Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive.

The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.

“We are honored to once again receive this prestigious distinction and be named one of Leapfrog’s Top Children’s Hospitals,” said Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “Our physicians, nurses and employees continuously strive to provide the best experience and outcomes for every patient and family who walks through our doors. We hold our safety and care standards high because that is what our patients deserve and what we would expect for our own families.”

Aubin added, “Thanks to our strong partnerships with Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, and the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine – Jacksonville, patients and families can have confidence in the care they receive at Wolfson Children’s.”

“The Leapfrog Group is a national leader in driving quality health care, and it is an honor to be recognized for our commitment to patient safety,” said Mark Hudak, MD, chair of the Department of Pediatrics for the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. “This incredible achievement is a reflection of our dedicated team of doctors, advanced providers, nurses and support staff and the amazing work they do every day to provide safe and compassionate care. We at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville value our opportunity to work with Wolfson Children’s leadership and staff, as well as our colleagues at Nemours, to provide the highest quality of care in the safest possible environment.”

“Being recognized as a Top Hospital is an extraordinary feat as it shows the positive impact our team has made on children’s health,” said Gary Josephson, MD, chief medical officer of Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. “Nemours Children’s Health’s long-standing partnership with Wolfson Children’s Hospital has always been focused around superior clinical care, prioritizing patient safety and improving health outcomes for children. This award honors our team’s commitment and hard work done every day to provide the highest quality of care and safety to the children we serve.”

The Leapfrog Group considered more than 2,200 hospitals for the Top Hospital awards. Among those, Wolfson Children’s Hospital received a Top Children’s Hospital distinction. A total of 149 hospitals nationwide were selected as Top Hospitals, including:

·         8 Top Children’s Hospitals

·         46 Top General Hospitals

·         23 Top Rural Hospitals

·         72 Top Teaching Hospitals

The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

“We are pleased to recognize Wolfson Children’s as a Top Hospital this year,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Even with the continued strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wolfson Children’s has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to excellent health care in the Jacksonville community. We congratulate the board, leadership, staff and clinicians who put their patients first.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest known standards for quality and patient safety. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2021 Top Hospitals, visit leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital is committed to providing safe, quality health care to children. In addition to being named as a 2021 Leapfrog Group Top Hospital, Wolfson Children’s is a Magnet® designated hospital, a designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center that recognizes excellence in patient care, and is named among the 2021-22 U.S News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals.

Services provided at Wolfson Children’s Hospital are provided primarily by pediatric physician specialists withNemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (for cardiac surgery services) and Emergency Resources Group.

For more information on why quality rankings should matter to parents, please visitwolfsonchildrens.com/about/best-childrens-hospital.