Medical Center Awarded Highest Score for Patient Safety

Date: 05/01/2025

On May 1, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center received its fifth consecutive A grade from The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Score^SM.
 
At the medical center, a culture of safety is part of every action taken. All team members are encouraged to look out for patient care concerns and empowered to pause activity by calling a safety stop. Then leaders analyze and address the safety matter quickly and develop an action plan to resolve the issue without delay. At patient intake, nurses review patient skin issues to prevent skin breakdown and decrease the risk of pressure injuries. Teams consider patient catheter use, infection concerns, and more at team meetings, staff huddles, and patient hand-offs at the bedside. Multi-disciplinary teams meet daily to get all members of the team on the same page to enhance care for complex cases, support patient care needs, identify next steps, and address safety concerns.
 
“Providing the highest quality care is always at the forefront,” says Elizabeth Perry, MPH, CPHQ, Director, Quality, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. “We encourage staff members to speak up about concerns at any time, from the team at the bedside to the operating room, to staff in our outpatient offices, and everywhere in between. We want everyone to speak up for safety and only proceed when we’re sure it's the safest environment possible for our patients.”
 
The Leapfrog Group releases letter ratings for healthcare centers twice a year based on data reported publicly to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. This rating period is based on care provided from 2020 through 2023.