REGION — Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, both Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital have been named Top Rural Hospitals by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can earn.

“This is a great honor and the best reflection of the commitment to the highest standard of quality, safety, and service to our community. I have always maintained that the most important part of ‘community hospitals’ is ‘community,’” said Peter J. Wright, FACHE, president of Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals and vice president of operations of Central Maine Medical Center. “We are here to serve and it is critically important that we provide the highest quality of healthcare. I could not be more proud of the more than 500 team members who come together every day to make this happen again this year.”

The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers recognized as the toughest standard-setters for healthcare safety and quality. Central Maine Medical Center recently received its seventh consecutive “A” – the highest grade possible – for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group.

“This recognition of Top Rural Hospital for Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals on the heels of our seventh ‘A’ grade for Central Maine Medical Center once again shows that quality and safety are a system-wide commitment that all of our team members, at every location, work to uphold,” said Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare. “I am humbled by their talents and passion for excellent patient care.”

To earn the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among their peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Over 2,200 hospitals were considered for the awards. Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital were among a total of only 23 selected as Top Rural Hospitals.

“We are honored to be recognized with this commendation for our two critical access hospitals,” said John L. Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP, chief medical officer of Central Maine Healthcare. “Our team members’ dedication to providing the highest quality of care for all of our patients throughout the region is something we all take pride in. This award shows that our ongoing commitment to quality and excellent care is consistently upheld across our entire system.”

The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication and other errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

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