HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas (January 17, 2024) – Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Seton Medical Center Harker Heights was named a Top General Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers known as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.
“Our team members strive each day to deliver the best patient care and experience possible. This award highlights the impact our culture of safety has had on the community we serve,” said Patrick Swindle CEO of Seton Medical Center Harker Heights. “This achievement is especially meaningful since Seton Harker Heights is one of only two facilities in the state of Texas to be named a Top General Hospital. I am so proud of those whose hard work and commitment to caring for others made this recognition possible.”
More than 2,100 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Seton Medical Center Harker Heights received a Top General distinction. A total of 132 Top Hospitals were selected, including:
- 8 Top Children’s
- 35 Top General
- 15 Top Rural
- 74 Top Teaching
The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.
“Protecting patients from preventable harm is the cornerstone of The Leapfrog Group’s mission,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “[Hospital name] has demonstrated that patient safety is their top priority, and we’re truly pleased to recognize them as a Top Hospital this year. Congratulations to hospital staff at all levels who made this national recognition possible.”
To qualify for the distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety and achieve top performance in their category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2023 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.
About Seton Medical Center Harker Heights
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights (SMCHH) is an 83-bed acute care hospital that opened in 2012 in Harker Heights, Texas offering an array of services such as Cardiology, Emergency Services, a Level IV Trauma Designated Emergency Room, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Total Joint Replacement, Gastroenterology, a dedicated Women’s Center, Diagnostic Services and more. We provide exceptional care through collaboration with our associates, physicians, volunteers and community partners. Our award-winning staff provides patient care with dignity and respect. We are Joint Commission Accredited, an Accredited Chest Pain Center and Advanced Primary Stroke Center. SMCHH is a joint venture between the Austin-based Seton Healthcare Family and Nashville-based Ardent Health Services. For more information about SMCHH, visit SetonHarkerHeights.net and facebook.com/SetonHH.
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 for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and 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.