These are the unsafest hospitals in the Macon area. See why with new report’s scores

Reality Check is a Telegraph series digging deeper into key issues and focusing on accountability. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email cmadden@mcclatchy.com.

If you’re curious how safe your hospital is, now is the time to check up. Leapfrog’s latest safety scores for Macon area hospitals are now available to the public.

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit that strives to make “giant leaps” in American health care by providing data and ratings for hospital safety.

The hospital safety ratings are determined by “peer-reviewed methodology, calculated by top patient safety experts under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, and are 100% transparent and free to the public,” according to Leapfrog’s website.

So, which hospitals in the area are the safest and unsafest?

Here are the Safety Grades for Middle GA hospitals:

Atrium Health Navicent, Medical Center

777 Hemlock St.

Macon, Georgia, 31201

Fall 2024 Grade: D

Atrium Health achieved the standard in areas such as:

• Skilled staff

• Handwashing

• Safe medication ordering and administration

However, the hospital scored low in these areas:

• Healthcare equity

• Some problems with surgery

• Harmful events (patient falls and blood clots)

• Communication between doctors and nurses

• Responsiveness

Past grades: Atrium has made a Hospital Safety Grade of C since 2019.

Piedmont Macon Medical Center

350 Hospital Drive

Macon, Georgia, 31217

Grade: A

Piedmont Macon performed better than most hospitals with:

• Surgical wounds and blood leakage

• Preventing harmful events

• Handwashing

• Safe medication administration

• Communication between doctors and nurses

However, there is some room for improvement with:

• Infections in the blood

• Communication about medicines and discharge

• Kidney injuries after surgery

Past grades: Piedmont Macon has made a Hospital Safety Grade of A since 2019.

Houston Healthcare

1601 Watson Blvd.

Warner Robins, Georgia, 31093

Grade: B

Houston Medical Center did well in the following areas:

• Preventing surgical site infections after colon surgeries

• Preventing harmful events

• Nurse staff

• Handwashing

• Safe medication administration

However, the hospital could improve on a few things:

• Communication and responsiveness with doctors and nurses

• Communication about medicines

• Some infection problems

Past grades: Houston Medical Center made a C in spring 2024 and a B in 2023; in 2022 and 2021, the hospital was given a C.

Houston Healthcare - Perry Hospital

1120 Morningside Drive

Perry, Georgia, 31069

Grade: C

Perry Hospital scored high in these areas:

• Preventing harmful events like patient falls

• Ordering medications

• Handwashing

• Safe medication administration and ordering

However, the hospital could improve on:

• Bedside care

• Preventing some infections

• Having skilled doctors on site for ICU patients

Please note, the Perry Hospital does not include a Women’s Center for pregnancy or births. The hospital is associated with Houston Medical, which does include a women’s center.

Past grades: Perry Hospital received a C in the spring 2024 and a C in fall of 2023; in spring 2023, the hospital got a B. The hospital hasn’t had an A since spring 2022.

Have any questions? Let me know at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.