Additional Changes to the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey and 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey in Response to COVID-19
Leapfrog is deeply grateful to the hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that voluntarily report to the Leapfrog Hospital and ASC Surveys. These facilities demonstrate their commitment to putting patients first every day, year in and year out. That commitment has never been more important to Americans than it is now amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Today, Leapfrog is announcing additional one-time-only changes to the 2020 Survey process. These changes, designed to significantly reduce the time required to participate in the Surveys, will uphold our shared vision for quality, safety, and transparency, while allowing our hospital and ambulatory surgery center colleagues to devote their time to the urgent needs of the moment. They are in addition to the original changes announced on March 14.
The following additional changes apply exclusively to the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey
Please see below for changes to the Leapfrog ASC Survey
Hospitals may maintain their 2019 Survey Results in lieu of reporting to the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Hospitals that submitted a 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey may choose to maintain last year’s Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results on our public reporting website. To select this option, no action is required. Hospitals that submitted a 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey will automatically have their 2019 Survey Results maintained on our public reporting website. These 2019 Survey Results will also automatically be used in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. However, hospitals that would like to update their 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results (i.e. report a change in performance) or have Survey Results publicly reported for the first time, must submit a 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey by the appropriate deadlines.
Significant reductions to the submission requirements for the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Hospitals choosing to submit the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey must complete the five sections of the Survey that constitute Leapfrog’s minimum requirements for submission[i]. Hospitals submitting the minimum required sections will not be scored or publicly reported as “Declined to Respond” for any additional Survey sections that are not submitted. Leapfrog will score and publicly report the remaining sections of the Survey as “Not Available,” which will be described on our public reporting website as unavailable data due to the COVID-19 crisis. Hospitals are still encouraged to submit all applicable sections of the Survey.
Late Submission Deadline extended to December 31. The Late Submission Deadline will be extended by 30 days from November 30 to December 31, 2020 to give hospitals even more time to submit a 2020 Survey. This also applies to hospitals that initially decide to continue reporting their 2019 results and wish to update by submitting the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey later in the year. As previously announced, public reporting will begin in September with Surveys submitted by August 31.
Additional changes to measures on the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey:
- NQF Safe Practice 2 Culture of Safety Measurement, Feedback, and Intervention (Section 6B) – The reporting period for administering a culture of safety survey will be updated to the last 36 months, rather than the last 24 months. The reporting period for additional practice elements will be updated to the last 24 months, rather than the last 12 months.
- Hand Hygiene (Section 6D) – All hospitals submitting a 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey will be required to respond to the new Hand Hygiene subsection. However, only hospitals that are scored as “Achieved the Standard” (or four out of four bars) or “Considerable Achievement” (or three out of four bars) will have their Results publicly reported. Hospitals that report on the subsection and score less than “Considerable Achievement” will be publicly reported as “Not Available,” which will be described on our public reporting website as unavailable data due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Suspension of On-Site Data Verification. As part of Leapfrog’s standard protocols to ensure data accuracy, we will suspend On-Site Data Verification of 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey Results. All other verification protocols will continue including warnings in the Online Survey Tool, extensive monthly data verification, and monthly documentation requirements.
One-on-one technical assistance calls with the Help Desk. To support hospitals in these difficult times, we will offer one-on-one calls with hospitals. Help Desk Coordinators will be available to review 2019 Survey Results and discuss reporting options for 2020, in addition to answering any questions about these changes or addressing any other issues related to submitting the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. To request a technical assistance call, visit https://leapfroghelpdesk.zendesk.com and select “Technical Assistance Call” from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey related issues drop-down menu. Calls will be scheduled within 24 hours.
[i] Section 1 Basic Hospital Information; Section 2 CPOE; Section 4 Maternity Care; Section 5 ICU Physician Staffing; and Section 6 Patient Safety Practices
The following additional changes apply exclusively to the 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey
Late Submission Deadline Extended to December 31. The Late Submission Deadline will be extended by 30 days from November 30 to December 31, 2020 to give ASCs even more time to submit a 2020 Survey. As previously announced, public reporting will begin in September with Surveys submitted by August 31.
Additional changes to measures on the 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey:
- Culture of Safety Measurement, Feedback, and Intervention (Section 6B Safe Practice 2 ) – The reporting period for administering a culture of safety survey will be updated to the last 36 months, rather than the last 24 months. The reporting period for additional practice elements will be updated to the last 24 months, rather than the last 12 months.
- Hand Hygiene (Section 6D) – All ASCs submitting a 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey will be required to respond to the new Hand Hygiene subsection. However, only ASCs that are scored as “Achieved the Standard” (or four out of four bars) or “Considerable Achievement” (or three out of four bars) will have their Results publicly reported. ASCs that report on the subsection and score less than “Considerable Achievement” will be publicly reported as “Not Available,” which will be described on our public reporting website as unavailable data due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Suspension of On-Site Data Verification. As part of Leapfrog’s standard protocols to ensure data accuracy, we will suspend On-Site Data Verification of 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey Results. All other verification protocols will continue including, warnings in the Online Survey Tool, extensive monthly data verification, and monthly documentation requirements.
One-on-one technical assistance calls with the Help Desk. To support ASCs in these difficult times, we will offer one-on-one calls with ASCs. Help Desk Coordinators will be available to discuss the 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey. To request a technical assistance call, visit https://leapfroghelpdesk.zendesk.com and select “Technical Assistance Call” from the Leapfrog Hospital Survey related issues drop-down menu. Calls will be scheduled within 24 hours.
Original Changes Announced to the 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Survey and 2020 Leapfrog ASC Survey in Response to COVID-19
March 14, 2020
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Regional Leaders, and staff of The Leapfrog Group, we express our gratitude for the dedication of America’s health care workforce. The pandemic threat reminds us all how much we depend on their courage and caring at our most vulnerable moments. Our respect for the priceless role of health care in American life is why Leapfrog cares so deeply about quality and safety.
Given the pressure our health care system is sustaining with this national emergency, we are taking some steps to be helpful.
First, we will extend the deadline for submission of the Leapfrog Hospital Survey by 60 days and remove the CPOE Evaluation Tool requirement for general hospitals. We will also extend the deadline for submission of the Leapfrog ASC Survey by 60 days. The deadline will now be August 31 for both Surveys, with results publicly reported in September.
Second, we are setting up a video series for hospitals and ASCs, as well as our core constituency of employer human resource leaders and business coalition leaders, to hear from experts on preparedness strategies for all of us.
Third, we will continue to share data and work closely with key officials as well as all of our friends and colleagues to support public health and public reassurance. We will keep you updated and announce educational events through email, our electronic newsletter, and here on our website. To sign up for our newsletter click here. We will also periodically update this letter so please check back.
Thanks to all of you who have given Leapfrog leadership, guidance, support and resources over our 20-year history. We hope in this moment of national need we can give back.