Claxton-Hepburn

Graded "A" by Hospital Safety Score Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center was honored with an "A" grade in the Fall 2013 update to the Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries, and infections. The Hospital Safety Score is compiled with the guidance of the nation's leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog), an independent health industry watchdog. The first and only hospital safety rating to be analyzed in the peer-reviewed Journal of Patient Safety, the Breaking New Ground for Cancer Care score is designed to give the public information they can use to protect themselves and their families. "We are pleased to be recognized for the success of our team's focus on patient safety," says Gary Hart, MD, chief medical officer at Claxton-Hepburn. "Our doctors, nurses, and support staff focus on our patients' safety by following proven care pathways and participating in measurement and continuous improvement activities." KNOWING THE SCORE "As patients begin to take a more active role in selecting where to receive health care, it has never been more important to focus on hospital safety and transparency," says Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog. "The 'A' hospitals, including Claxton-Hepburn, are helping us to raise the standards of health care nationwide." To see Claxton-Hepburn's score as it compares nationally and locally, and to find safety tips for patients and their loved ones, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. Local hospitals' scores are also available on the free mobile app, available at www.hospitalsafetyscore.org. on September 23, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center held a ceremony at the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center to kick off a $4.7 million expansion. This improvement will include a new bunker to accommodate the Varian TrilogyTM linear accelerator (see page 6). Since the linear accelerator uses radiation to treat patients, thick concrete walls—some more than eight feet in width—must be constructed to keep the radiation contained. "Cancer is an illness that seems to touch each of us," says Cynthia Clusen, executive director of the Foundation at Claxton-Hepburn. "That is why the community has been so supportive of the Cancer Center and its programs. We are grateful for the donations that have allowed us to build and expand cancer services." You make projects like this possible. To support the Foundation, visit www.claxtonhepburn.org and select "Giving & Volunteering." Left to right: Cindy Clusen; Linda Fay; Vicki Perrine; Jerry Sheppard; Maureen Missert; Bonnie Wright; John Gebert, MD; James Chadwick; Joseph Tracy; Mark Webster; Kiri Brandy, MD; and Ali Gharagozloo, MD. 5 LIVING WELL www.claxtonhepburn.org

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