SV Hospital in top 15 for safety

Sonoma Valley Hospital is ranked among the 15 safest hospitals in the country by Consumer Reports. The results of a survey of 2,591 hospitals in 50 states are in the magazine’s May issue.

“We are delighted to receive this news because we value patient safety very highly,” said Kelly Mather, SVH president and CEO. “It’s great to see the efforts of our physicians and staff acknowledged by a national organization like Consumer Reports.”

In the survey, the highest ranking hospital achieved a safety score of 78; SVH rated a 73. Hospitals were ranked on combined performance in five patient safety measures: mortality; readmission; scanning; infections; and communication.

“We have worked diligently to provide our patients with the highest quality care at every level,” Mather said. “We work every day with the safety of our patients in mind.”

Mather noted that this recognition comes as a result of the Hospital’s Electronic Health Record implementation in 2012, led by Fe Sendaydiego, chief information officer, and Dr. Robert Cohen, chief medical officer, and the Hospital’s Culture of Safety team comprising Chris Kutza, Leslie Lovejoy, Courtney McMahon, Lorna Gantenbein and Cindi Newman.

One particular focus was to catch medication errors and prevent hospital acquired. “We obviously succeeded, and will continue to build on this success,” said Mather.

Consumer Reports noted its analysis used two measures of hospital mortality from information obtained on patients 65 and older from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which it calls the most recent, reliable, and comprehensive data publicly available.