Adventist Health Bakersfield | You + Us | Summer 2018

Thank you to all our employees and physicians. FOR patient safety again! Straight ’ s The Only Rated Hospital in Kern County. Committed to your safety Adventist Health Bakersfield is the only hospital in Kern County to earn this quality distinction—not once, but for the second time in a row. “I’m extremely proud of our ‘A’ grade that recognizes our staff ’s relentless commitment to protecting patients from harm,” says Sharlet Briggs, Adventist Health Bakersfield president. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital rating focused exclusively on patient safety. Its letter grade scoring system—A, B, C, D or F—is a quick way for consumers to choose the safest hospital to seek care. Inspiring Health YOU + US is printed quarterly (issue 2 of 4) by Adventist Health Bakersfield, 2615 Chester Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301-2014. Information in YOU + US comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. Questions or comments? Email sjchmarketing@ah.org. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Sharlet Briggs President | Megan Simpson Executive Editor and Writer | Teresa Adamo Editor and Writer | Jennifer Williams, Willis Design Studio Photographer YOU + US : Together i nsp i red ™ Leaping above the rest: Why the ‘A’ matters When it comes to grades, getting an “A” is great, right? We think so! • Adventist Health Bakersfield has earned an “A” from the Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog for patient safety. That means we rank among the safest hospitals in the U.S.—and show a commitment to protecting our patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Check out the report card! See all the grades for local hospitals. Visit leapfroggroup.org/ compare-hospitals . A 30% B 28% C 35% D 6% F 1% Thirty percent of hospitals in the U.S. received an “A” grade. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is calculated by top patient safety experts. It’s fully transparent and free to the public. It’s updated every six months, once in the fall and once in the spring. Making the grade Here’s a breakdown of how approximately 2,500 hospitals across the nation were graded. Our best for you. Sharlet Briggs (center), president of Adventist Health Bakersfield, along with a few members of the “A” team, celebrate the hospital’s safety grade.