Consumer Reports: UConn is Home to High Patient Safety

Consumer Reports has recognized UConn John Dempsey Hospital with one of the highest patient safety score ratings in Connecticut.

Consumer Reports has given UConn John Dempsey Hospital one of the highest patient safety scores in Connecticut (UConn Health Photo/Janine Gelineau).

Consumer Reports has given UConn John Dempsey Hospital one of the highest patient safety scores in Connecticut (UConn Health Photo/Janine Gelineau).

Consumer Reports has recognized UConn John Dempsey Hospital with one of the highest patient safety score ratings in Connecticut.

Chief Nursing Officer Ann Marie Capo, RN, speaks with inpatient Myles Connolly at UConn John Dempsey Hospital's new tower on its opening day in May 2016 (UConn Health Photo).
Chief Nursing Officer Ann Marie Capo, RN, speaks with inpatient Myles Connolly at UConn John Dempsey Hospital’s new tower on its opening day in May 2016 (UConn Health Photo).

The hospital’s high patient safety score of 59 is the third highest in the state. UConn John Dempsey only trails by one point both Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and Middlesex Hospital in Middletown.

UConn John Dempsey’s high patient safety rating by Consumer Reports outscores all other hospitals in Hartford, several large health systems in nearby big cities like New York and Boston, and many other hospitals around the nation.

“We are so happy to show how competitive UConn John Dempsey Hospital is in high quality care and patient safety on both a local and national level,” shared Anne Diamond, CEO of UConn John Dempsey Hospital.

Consumer Reports hospital ratings are based on five key measures of readmissions, complications, communication, overuse of CT scans, and infections.

Its ranking system differs from The Leapfrog Group hospital patient safety rating in that it has fewer measures, but includes data on readmissions and CT scan use. Leapfrog has awarded the UConn John Dempsey three top ‘A’ ratings for its high level of patient safety making it among the safest in both Connecticut and the U.S. In addition, UConn John Dempsey tracks its serious safety events and achieved its lowest rate ever this April.

Learn more about how Consumer Reports ranks hospitals, here and also find out how other hospitals scored, here.