Frye Regional Medical Center Nationally Recognized with an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

HICKORY, NC (May 10, 2022) – Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade  for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Frye Regional’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital.

“We are very pleased with this high mark, which places us among the top tier of hospitals across the country when it comes to patient safety,” said Rod Harkleroad, RN, chief executive officer at Frye Regional Medical Center. “The way our team continues to care for our community, particularly during the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, is further proof of how we always put quality and safety first – and it reinforces how deserving our facility is of this ‘A’ grade.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“Safe, patient-centered care is a priority for our medical staff, executive leadership, board members, clinical leaders and all hospital staff,” said Philip Greene, MD, chief medical officer at Frye Regional Medical Center. “One of our high-five guiding principles is delivering high quality patient care. Receiving an ‘A’ grade from the Leapfrog organization is a testament that our team is delivering on our promise.”

“As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Frye Regional Medical Center for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.”

To see Frye Regional Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

About Frye Regional Medical Center

A part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Frye Regional Medical Center has served the health and medical needs of the residents of the Catawba Valley region since 1911 with a commitment to delivering high quality and compassionate care with a focus on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. In 2020, the hospital made more than $5.2 million in capital investments; donated more than $79 million in services to those in need; and added 55 employed, affiliated and telehealth providers.

Frye Regional Medical Center includes a 355-bed acute care hospital—home to the Frye Brain Center, Cancer Center, Heart Center, Lung Center, Orthopedics, General and Vascular Surgery, Surgical Weight Loss, and Women’s Center with a Level III NICU.

The hospital also features a 32-bed Emergency Department, 29-bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, 15-bed Surgical Suite and Inpatient/Outpatient Imaging. Frye Regional’s South Campus is home to an 81-bed Behavioral Health Hospital. The health system also offers regional access to more than 70 primary care and specialty care providers through the FryeCare Physicians Network. Learn more at www.MyFryeRegional.com.

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.