Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Deborah Heart and Lung Center was named a Top Teaching Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. 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 health care safety and quality.

“We are delighted to receive this recognition,” said Deborah President and CEO Joseph Chirichella. “Deborah prides itself on its quality and safety, and having the Leapfrog organization present us with this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at our organization.”

Over 2,200 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, Deborah Heart and Lung Center received a Top Teaching Hospital distinction. A total of 149 top hospitals nationwide were selected as Top Hospitals, including:

• 8 Top Children’s
• 46 Top General
• 23 Top Rural
• 72 Top Teaching

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.

“We are pleased to recognize Deborah Heart and Lung Center as a Top Hospital this year,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Even with the continued strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deborah Heart and Lung Center has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to excellent health care in the Delaware Valley Region. We congratulate the board, leadership, staff and clinicians who put their patients first.”

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. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2021 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

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, Leapfrog’s 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.

About Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases, as well as providing outpatient cardiology services for children. Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care and innovative healing, and is an Alliance Member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. Deborah has a high rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; and has a 3-Star Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating for coronary artery bypass graft surgery; aortic valve replacement; and bypass surgery combined with aortic valve replacement, which ranks Deborah among the top 7% of cardiac surgery programs in the country. For more information visit www.DemandDeborah.org