ORLANDO, Fla. — For the first time, a new report is grading Central Florida hospitals on safety issues, and several local hospitals didn't earn top marks.
GRADES: Complete list of hospitals
Orlando Regional Medical Center received a C, and Florida Hospital in downtown Orlando got a B.
Channel 9’s Bianca Castro found out what factors the report used to hand out the grades.
Orlando resident Jim Hackett was disappointed when he learned the local hospital he was admitted to last week got low marks for safety.
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that follows patient safety, looked at 26 factors, from safety policies to the rate of medication mix-ups and infections.
There are errors that are behind 400 preventable deaths every day in the U.S., the group said.
“Not all hospitals are the same,” said Leapfrog Chief Executive Officer Leah Binder. “Some are safer than others, and people deserve to know which is which.”
ORMC in downtown Orlando was one of the few hospitals in the area that got a C. But officials suggest the grade may be misleading.
In a statement, an ORMC spokesman pointed out the report used data from 2010, saying the hospital has since made improvements to address the issues in the report.
Plus, other critics said many patients go to where their doctors send them, and the report doesn't carry much weight.
“You should talk to your doctor and explain there are some concerns about the safety of the hospital,” said Binder.
Despite the grade, Hackett said he has no plans of going elsewhere.
“Quite frankly, that is one of the reasons we live here, is because we are close to the hospital,” he said.
Officials with Florida Hospital said safety is a priority, and they're constantly assessing ways to improve their policies to prevent errors.