Nash UNC Health Care Earns 'Elite' Top Hospital Award 

Nash one of only to 32 hospitals nationwide to receive this designation 

Bill Lehnes, chairman of the Nash UNC Health Care board of commissioners, and Jean Kitchin, chair of the quality council, stand with Nash UNC team members. From Left to Right: Lee Isley, president and CEO of Nash UNC Health Care; Jean Kitchin; Bill Lehnes; Priyank Desai, MD ; Jeannie Lane; Lee Thompson; Janet Ragle; and George Kasarala, MD

Nash UNC Health Care has been named one of the nation’s Top Hospitals for 2022, the highest and most competitive recognition for excellence in hospital safety and quality.

The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that collects and reports hospital performance data, released today its list of select hospitals receiving this designation. The release named Nash UNC Health Care (“Nash UNC”) as a “Top General Hospital”, reflecting Nash UNC’s commitment to the highest standards of patient safety and quality of care, according to Leapfrog.

Nash UNC is among only 32 hospitals across the country to receive this designation out of approximately 2,200 that were eligible for consideration.

This is a separate designation from the Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade received a few weeks ago.

“Top Hospitals” are selected based on data reflecting the highest standards and performance in quality and patient safety. This includes infection rates, medication safety and surgery outcomes, among many other patient priorities.

“We are pleased to recognize Nash UNC Health Care as a 2022 Leapfrog Top General Hospital,” said Leah Binder, CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This is an honor achieved only by an elite group of hospitals that meet the nation's toughest standards for safety and quality.”

Dr. L. Lee Isley, president and CEO of Nash UNC credited the dedication by hospital staff and medical staff, and the leadership of the hospital’s board of commissioners.

“Everyone at Nash UNC has been working hard to ensure we are meeting the highest standards of quality and patient safety,” said Isley. “This recognition is a testament to the collaboration between our providers and staff in our dyad and triad structures which drive these improvements, as well as the strategic vision and accountability set by our board and quality leadership council. It takes everyone, from the front-line care team to the support staff and back office functions, working together with laser focus to achieve an honor of this magnitude. I am incredibly proud of our teams for their dedication to our patients, and for their relentless pursuit of improving the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Earlier this year, Nash UNC was named among the Best Hospitals in the State, by Business North Carolina, based on patient satisfaction scores and other quality of care metrics. Nash UNC also earned a Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade last month, and received six national awards for heart and stroke care this summer.

More on Leapfrog Top Hospitals

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety, and achieve top performance in its category. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2022 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.