Toms river's community medical center gets prestigious a+ rating, really?

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — If you grew up in Toms River, you might think this was a case of fake news and media disinformation. For decades, Toms River’s Community Medical Center was a local inside joke. Long emergency room waits and urban legends about it being the hospital you can check into but might not check out of.

Over the years, CMC has done a lot to improve its image and services, and after having two children born here and having recently stayed there, we agree that the hospital is now top-notch.

It’s too bad we can’t even make fun of “Paul Kimball” anymore, but that’s another story for another day.

Community Medical Center has been awarded an “A” grade in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2024, recognizing the facility’s commitment to patient safety and efforts to minimize medical errors and preventable harm.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit focused on healthcare quality and transparency, evaluates hospitals nationwide using up to 31 safety measures, including infection rates, surgical complications, and error-prevention practices. Community Medical Center’s overall safety score of 0.852 places it well above the national average of 0.746 and significantly better than the worst-performing hospitals, which scored as high as 2.696.

The hospital received “above average” ratings for reducing C. diff infections, urinary tract infections, and sepsis following surgery. Other infection rates, such as MRSA and surgical site infections after colon surgery, were rated as “average.” These metrics highlight the hospital’s strong safety measures compared to expected infection rates in the community and across similar institutions.

“Safer hospitals take consistent steps like thorough hand hygiene, rigorous cleaning protocols, and isolating patients with contagious conditions,” Leapfrog notes on its website, emphasizing the practices that contribute to top-performing facilities like Community Medical Center.

This recognition solidifies Community Medical Center’s reputation as one of the safest hospitals in the region, making it a standout in Ocean County.

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