Merit Health Wesley ranks as the best local hospital for patient safety

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - One local hospital is receiving top honors for safety.

Hospitalsafetygrade.org gave Merit Health Wesley an "A" for the third time in a row for its patient safety.

Hospitalsafetygrade.org evaluates hospitals every six months, and Merit Health Wesley is glad to receive the best ranking in the Pine Belt for the last 1.5 years.

Debbie Johnson, vice president of quality and patient safety officer said, "Mission Zero is a recognition of what our goal for safety is. And, our mission is to have zero avoidable, preventable errors and omissions here at Merit Health Wesley. So, we've been on that mission for several years, and all the things that we do for patient safety gets us one step closer to achieving that mission where we can say we had zero avoidable errors and omissions."

Johnson said the hospital has daily safety huddles to discuss ways to improve quality and safety.

Hospitalsafetygrade.org gave Forrest General Hospital and South Central Regional Medical Center each a "C" grade for patient safety.