ST. JOSEPH — In observing National Patient Safety Awareness Week, The Economic Alliance for Michigan, a nonprofit group comprised of Michigan’s largest employers and unions, awarded Lakeland Medical Center and Lakeland Hospital Niles with the Patient Safety Excellence Award. The award recognizes the hospitals for consistently performing high marks and improvements in patient safety and quality of care. The federal government recognizes the two hospitals as a single entity; thus, the recognition applies to both hospitals. Lakeland was one of only eight hospitals in the state to receive this recognition.

Hospitals receiving the Excellence Award must report to The Leapfrog Group survey for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) and maintain all “A’s” with Hospital Safety Grade in four consecutive grading terms (Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018). This marks the fourth year for the EAM awards.

“Keeping our patient’s safe and promoting a culture of zero harm is one of the highest priorities of any health system and this recognition is a direct reflection of our team members’ commitment to this effort,” said Loren B. Hamel, MD, president, Spectrum Health Lakeland.

Bret Jackson, president of EAM, also commented on the significance of the achievement.

“The EAM is honored to recognize these hospitals striving to make Michigan a safer place to live and work,” Jackson said. “When hospitals make mistakes, it adds cost to the patient’s bill and length to a hospital stay. Improving patient safety will contribute to lower health care costs, which in turn, will help employers create more jobs and higher wages.”

Spectrum Health Lakeland is a nonprofit, community-owned health system serving southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. The organization offers a full continuum of care and wellness services including three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, a cancer center, and 41 physician practices. Lakeland is a division of Spectrum Health with 30,000 professionals, 4,100 medical staff experts, 3,200 volunteers and a health plan serving 1 million members. Lakeland was named a 100 Top Hospital by IBM Watson Health in 2019.