• Central Washington Hospital (Wenatchee)
• Harbor Regional Health Community Hospital (Aberdeen)
• Harborview Medical Center (Seattle)
• MultiCare Allenmore Hospital (Tacoma)
• MultiCare Auburn Medical Center (Auburn)
• MultiCare Covington Medical Center (Covington)
• Olympic Medical Center (Port Angeles)
• Providence Centralia Hospital (Centralia)
• Providence Holy Family Hospital (Spokane)
• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (Spokane)
• Providence St. Mary Medical Center (Walla Walla)
• Providence St. Peter Hospital (Olympia)
• Tacoma General Hospital (Tacoma)
• University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake (Seattle)
• University of Washington Medical Center - Northwest (Seattle)
• Yakima Valley Memorial (Yakima)

Not graded

• Astria Toppenish Hospital (Toppenish)
• EvergreenHealth Monroe (Monroe)

The letter grades assigned to nearly 3,000 U.S general hospitals were based on more than 30 measures of patient safety. Leapfrog says its hospital rating system is the only one in the country focusing solely on a hospital’s ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

Included in the 30 are five that research has shown to directly affect patient outcomes, but can be improved with greater communication between caregivers and patients — the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, infections from colon surgery, MRSA (Staphylococcus) blood laboratory-identified events, and facility-wide inpatient diarrhea events.

When there’s communication about medications, for example, that can lead to fewer hospitalizations for conditions such as sepsis and blood clots, fewer complications, and decreases in the incidence of respiratory failure, Leapfrog said.

Among the findings:

“For a long time, the health care community tried to improve safety, but progress stalled,” Binder said. “The big difference over this decade is that for the first time, we publicly reported each hospital’s record on patient safety, and that galvanized the kind of change we all hoped for.

“It’s not enough change, but we are on the right track,” she said.

Notably, hospitals reduced what are called “never events” — accidents and errors that never should have happened, the release said. Incidents of falls and trauma and incidents in which objects were unintentionally left in a patient’s body during surgery were down 25 percent, the watchdog group said.

Also, according to the report, progress on the number of patients treated for health care-associated infections declined to pre-pandemic levels.

Nearly two dozen hospitals have received straight-A reports every year since the Leapfrog Group began its safety grades in 2012. They are:

Douglas Ray Loney was called home to rest by God on Monday, December 12, 2022, after a yearlong battle with glioblastoma brain cancer. We were very fortunate that he was surrounded by family with so much love and prayer at the time of his passing.

Doug was born on April 29, 1962, in the Dalles, Oregon. He grew up in Touchet, Washington, and was a 1980 graduate of Touchet High school. During his school years, Doug was active in 4-H and FFA, raising hogs and steers for the Walla Walla Fair. In high school, he took great pride in his experience as a Touchet Indian Football player. Doug was captain of the 1979 state championship team. The friendships Doug formed in his early years lasted throughout his life. Doug graduated from Eastern Washington University, where he enjoyed theatrical set building, music, and art. He started his career working with the U.S. Forest Service because of his love of the outdoors. Doug joined the Employment Security Department in 1989, where he held various progressive roles, including Operations Manager and Office Administrator, over the course of 32 years until retirement in 2021.

Doug met the love of his life and soulmate, Berta Rodriguez, when they were both working in the Tri-Cities. They began dating and were married six months later. They welcomed their son, Ian, in 1993 and their daughter, Mckenzie, in 1996. They moved to his grandparent’s farm in Gardena, renovating the homestead and raising their family. Doug and Berta were blessed to have celebrated 30 years of marriage in September of this year.

Doug enjoyed the simple things in life: family, friends, celebrations, and community. Hosting Thanksgiving was very special, with dozens of extended family gathering at their home each year. He loved sharing a glass of chardonnay with friends at his home on the family farm, especially in his backyard, while enjoying music, conversation, and watching the clouds go by. His favorite places to relax and unwind included Jubilee Lake, Cannon Beach, the Tucannon, and  Port Kelly Yacht Club. Doug’s camping, fishing, and hunting adventures were some of his greatest memories. Anyone who spent time with Doug knew what a wonderful, kind, and gentle-hearted soul of a man he was!

Doug was dedicated to his community, serving on the board of the Touchet Educational Foundation from 2004-2016, holding the position of President for many years. Doug’s creative talents were often called upon to help with Touchet’s May Day celebration and school programs. He actively contributed to local arenas, including the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Committee, and Community College.

Doug is survived by his wife, Berta; son, Ian, and daughter, Mckenzie; mother, Beverly Barnett (Wayne); father, Darrell Loney (Patti); sister, Debbie Loney Smyth (Jeff); grandfather, Perry Anderson; step-brother, Skyler Barnett; step-sister, Kady Tucker (Pat); step-brother, John Walker;  sister-in-law, Vivian Rodriguez; brother-in-law, Steve Rodriguez (Kelley); sister-in-law, Joy Rodriguez. Doug was loved by nieces and nephews: Brooke, Sydney, Alyssa, Abbie, Melissa, Shannon, Jayla, Braylee, Maddie, Ryan, Ely, Ian, Cole, Sky, Brandon, Jagger. Great-nephews, Nolan, Juddson, Cash, Jasper, Bennet, Bronx, Sterling, and Clayton; and great-nieces, Adelynn, Brooklyn, and a couple more on the way! His loving family includes many aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends who became family throughout his life. We were all blessed to have called him ours!

He was preceded in death by his father, Oran (Diane) Loney; grandparents, Josephine Anderson, Hazel and Herb Loney; Cousins, Robert Schaeffer and Neil Anderson.

Doug was lovingly cared for at home by his wife Berta, mother Beverly, sister-in-law Vivian, and caregiver Lupe Mata. The family would like to thank friends, family, and community for all of their love, support, and prayers. We could not have gotten through this without you! A special thank you to the nursing staff, CNAs, therapists, and doctors at Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill, Seattle, Providence St. Mary, Park Manor rehabilitation facility, Hospice, and Cancer Center of Walla Walla for the compassionate and loving care given to Doug throughout his battle.

A celebration of life for Doug will be held at the Chvatal Family Farm in Touchet on Friday, December 30, 2022, at 1:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Touchet Educational Foundation, Glioblastoma Foundation, or a charity of your choice through Herring Groseclose Funeral home, 315 W. Alder St. Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.

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