These are the most unsafe hospitals in the Kansas City area. See if yours is on the list
When going to the hospital for a surgery or illness, you trust that the medical staff will treat your condition well. But if your nurses and doctors don’t wash their hands or give you the wrong medicine, your health could get worse, not better.
But some Kansas City area hospitals are better at these patient safety steps than others.
Falls, infections after surgery, miscommunications with staff and other preventable safety issues kill up to 250,000 people each year, according to health care watchdog nonprofit The Leapfrog Group.
The organization, which has given hospitals letter grades on patient safety for over 20 years, released its fall 2024 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades on Nov. 15.
While grades range from A to F, the Kansas City area did not have any D or F facilities.
Twice a year, hospitals are evaluated in 32 areas grouped in five categories: infections; problems with surgery; safety problems; practices to prevent errors; and staffing levels and education.
For more information on your hospital’s performance in other aspects, like patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness, search the facility’s name on the Medicare website’s care to compare. In addition, U.S. News and World Report releases rankings based on hospitals’ performance in a variety of medical specialties and common procedures.
Here are the Kansas City area hospitals with the best and worst patient safety ratings for fall 2024, according to Leapfrog Group.
Most unsafe hospitals in the Kansas City area (C grades)
Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Overland Park Regional Medical Center had below-average scores in 12 areas, including the worst possible score in nursing and bedside care for patients. The hospital received a B grade in spring 2024, after six A grades in a row.
University Health Truman Medical Center, Kansas City
University Health Truman Medical Center had below-average scores in 11 of the 32 metrics. Since 2021, the hospital has scored a C in seven out of eight assessments.
The University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas
The University of Kansas Hospital received below-average grades in 10 of the 29 metrics. The hospital had the worst possible scores in hand-washing, not using medication ordering systems, having specially trained doctors care for ICU patients and administering medication safely. The Kansas institution scored C’s in spring 2024 and fall 2023.
Research Medical Center Main Campus, Kansas City
Research Medical Center had below-average scores in 10 areas, including the worst possible score in nursing and bedside care for patients. The hospital has scored a B in six out of the last eight reports.
Lee’s Summit Medical Center received below-average scores in six out of the 31 areas, including the worst possible score on nursing and bedside care for patients and having specially trained doctors care for ICU patients. The hospital had scored A’s in the last three reports.
Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park
Menorah Medical Center received below average scores in six areas, including the worst possible score in handwashing and nursing and bedside care for patients. The hospital has received seven A grades in a row since the beginning of 2021.
Belton Regional Medical Center
Belton Regional Medical Center received below average scores in eight out of 28 areas, including the worst possible score on nursing and bedside care for patients. The hospital received a C grade in spring 2024, after two years of B grades.
Safest hospitals in the Kansas City area (A grades)
Centerpoint Medical Center, Independence
Olathe Medical Center
Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
Saint Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit
Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Overland Park
St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City
St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs
B grades
AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
Liberty Hospital
North Kansas City Hospital
Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City
Saint Luke’s North Hospital - Barry Road, Kansas City
University Health Lakewood Medical Center, Kansas City
Do you have more questions about health in the Kansas City area? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published November 19, 2024 at 3:14 PM.
