Florida Hospital Waterman Receives an A for Patient Safety in Fall 2017 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Only hospital in Lake County and Central Florid to receive 9 consecutive A grades since 2013. TAVARES,FL. November 1, 2017 Florida Hospital Waterman has once again been recognized as one of the regions leading hospitals focused on patient safety and quality. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, has released new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. Florida Hospital Waterman was one of 832 awarded an A for its commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the U.S., and the only hospital in Lake County or Central Florida to earn 9 consecutive A grades since Spring 2013. Florida Hospital Waterman has consistently proven that our patients safety is our top priority, said Abel Biri, President and Chief Executive Officer, Florida Hospital Waterman. We are proud of the honor and our track record. The 9 consecutive A grades we have received since Spring 2013 proves that our team is dedicated to providing safe, quality and compassionate care in a patient-centered environment. It takes consistent, unwavering dedication to patients to achieve the highest standards of patient safety. An A Safety Grade recognizes hospitals for this accomplishment, said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. We congratulate the clinicians, Board, management and staff of Florida Hospital Waterman for showing the country what it means to put patient safety first. Developed under the guidance of a Blue Ribbon National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. To see Florida Hospital Watermans full grade, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade on Twitter and Facebook.

About Florida Hospital Waterman Florida Hospital Waterman is a 269-bed, full-service community hospital located in the heart of Lake County. Founded in 1938 by Frank Waterman, president of the Waterman Fountain Pen Company, the hospital has grown from an 18-bed facility to a leading provider of acute and home health services in Central Florida. The hospital joined the Adventist Health System in 1992, and moved to its current location in 2003. With more than 1,700 employees and nearly 280 physicians on its medical staff, the hospital treats more than 15,000 inpatients a year and treats more than 65,000 patients in its Emergency Department annually. 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 forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital 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, Leapfrogs 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.