Loma Linda University Health hospitals, which have a significant presence in the Coachella Valley, have been nationally recognized for its achievements in patient safety and quality.

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital was named a Top Children’s Hospital for the second consecutive year, and Loma Linda University Medical Center – East Campus received its inaugural recognition as a Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization. Announced yesterday, the Leapfrog Top Hospital awards are widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive.

Scott Perryman, senior vice president/administrator for LLU Children’s Hospital, said it is a privilege to have received this award.

“This designation as a Top Children’s Hospital highlights our consistent commitment to patient safety and quality,” Perryman said in a prepared statement. “The patient families we serve invest a tremendous amount of trust in the care we provide, and we feel privileged to have received this award. This recognition would not be possible without our committed clinical team of pediatricians, surgeons, sub-specialists, nurses and child life specialists for all they do to keep the mothers and children of the Inland Empire healing, healthy and happy.”

Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

Home to several specialties, including rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery and family medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center – East Campus earned the Top Teaching Hospital designation by Leapfrog for the first time.

Jonathan Jean-Marie, vice president/administrator for Loma Linda University Medical Center – East Campus, accepted the award on behalf of the hospital at the celebration event.

“In addition to providing top quality care, we pride ourselves on teaching the next generation of clinicians,” Jean-Marie said. “It is the goal of our faculty to instill excellence, integrity and compassion to the residents and fellows who come to us for their training.”

Loma Linda University Children’s Health – Indio officially opened its doors to the Indio community and the region on March 12, 2018 offering pediatric primary care services.

In the following months the clinic started to roll out other services, such as urgent care, telemedicine, dentistry and other specialties. The nearly 13,000-square-foot building houses 20 patient exam rooms, three dental chairs and an X-ray room.

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must submit a Leapfrog Hospital Survey and achieve highest performance in its category. The selection of Top Hospitals 2018 is based on surveys from nearly 1,900 hospitals. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2018 Top Hospitals, visit here.

PHOTO CAPTION: Representatives from Loma Linda University Health accepted the Leapfrog Top Hospital Awards in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 4.