The OrthoForum, a nationwide network of privately owned orthopaedic practices known for its focus on benchmarking, networking, innovation and advocacy, today announced they are encouraging their eligible practices to report quality and safety data to The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog representing employers that offers an independent comparison of facilities across the country. The announcement is part of OrthoForum’s ongoing commitment to making information on the safety and quality of outpatient surgical care they provide available to employers and the public.
Leapfrog traditionally rates hospitals on inpatient care, including the well-known, award-winning Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. This year Leapfrog added ratings of outpatient surgery and ambulatory surgery centers, where over 60 percent of surgeries now take place.
“Since we began asking ASCs and hospitals to voluntarily make public the quality and safety of their day surgery, we have been impressed with how these facilities embrace transparency,” said Leah Binder, President & CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “There is no better example of that vision and leadership than OrthoForum, which clearly welcomes the opportunity to candidly tell their story to the business community and the patients they serve. This is truly a new chapter in health care transparency, where providers are bold and confident enough to insist on it.”
“We believe this is a great opportunity for our members to further demonstrate their cost-effective, quality-focused care delivery by collaborating with The Leapfrog Group, the recognized leader in providing objective data to inform decisions made by purchasers and patients,” said Glenn Sumner, CEO of The OrthoForum.
OrthoForum and its more than 150 independent, vertically integrated orthopaedic practices are expanding their commitment to continuous improvement in value-based care by encouraging member participation in the Leapfrog ASC Survey. The OrthoForum practices, employing over 30,000 healthcare-focused associates, are also largely self-insured and will benefit from the objective insights Leapfrog provides employers seeking quality health care providers.
The Leapfrog ASC Survey is open until December 31, 2020. The annual Leapfrog ASC Survey is free and open to ambulatory surgery centers in the United States. The Survey assesses the safety and quality of ASCs based on national, evidence-based measures that are of specific interest to employers, health care purchasers and, consumers. Survey Results are publicly reported, and provide ASCs with information to benchmark their progress in improving the care they deliver. ASCs interested in participating should visit Leapfrog’s website: www.leapfroggroup.org/asc.