BROWNSVILLE – In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Valley Baptist Health System once again received “A” ratings in patient safety from The Leapfrog as the company recently released its fall 2020 safety scores for hospitals nationwide.

Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen each received their seventh-consecutive “A” ratings from The Leapfrog Group, demonstrating the commitment to delivering safe, high-quality patient care both hospitals are known for.

“People assume that hospitals will heal them and keep them from harm. Although we are honored that our patients trust us to deliver excellent and safe care, that trust must be earned. Our ‘A’ grade from Leapfrog is national recognition that we continue to earn that trust by providing care that is only found in the top hospitals in the country,” said Leslie Bingham, CEO, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. “The fact that we consistently achieve ‘A’ status year after year is a direct reflection of the commitment of every physician and staff member on our care team, especially as we continue to work with our community to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Score is a rating system designed to give consumers information they can use to make healthcare decisions for themselves or a loved one. The Leapfrog Group assigns A, B, C, D, and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals based on their ability to prevent errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

In addition to earning its seventh-consecutive “A” rating from The Leapfrog Group, this is also Valley Baptist-Brownsville’s ninth “A” rating in the last 10 reporting periods.

In addition to evaluating patient care and error prevention as usual, part of The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2020 grading process included how hospitals have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We see in the news every day the extraordinary courage of clinicians and staff caring for patients stricken by COVID-19. What’s less apparent — yet equally laudable — are the untold efforts behind the scenes to protect patients. Hospitals’ commitment to the fundamentals have saved lives, too, like preventing infection, ensuring universal hand hygiene and double and triple checking everything to avoid errors,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We are grateful for the heroic efforts of hospitals across the nation and applaud their efforts that are protecting our families.”

Manny Vela, CEO for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist Health System, said the entire team at Valley Baptist-Harlingen remains as committed as ever to patient safety.

“Recognition of this sort does not happen by chance,” said Manny Vela, CEO of Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen and Valley Baptist Health System. “It is possible only through the dedication and tireless work of our physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff who treat our patients as though they were family regardless of the challenging environments around them.”

To see full grades for both Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.