COVINGTON – St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital has been recognized by The Leapfrog Group and the American Diabetes Association as a Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes. It is one of just 37 hospitals earning this national recognition, and the only one in Louisiana, for its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of hospitalized people living with diabetes.
The Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes program is in its third year, evaluating hospitals based on their care for patients with diabetes during admission, hospital stay and discharge. The program recognizes hospitals aligned with the ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes and Leapfrog’s standards for excellence in hospital safety and quality.
“At St. Tammany Health System, we understand that patients living with diabetes require careful, coordinated care from admission through discharge,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our care teams, especially our Diabetes Education team, and their commitment to patient safety, evidence-based practice and compassionate teamwork that helps protect some of our most vulnerable patients,”
An estimated 30% of U.S. inpatients are living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, putting them at high risk of injury or even death when protocols are not followed, including during hospitalization. In Louisiana, more than 520,000 people have diabetes, among the highest rates in the nation, according to figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People living with diabetes face added risks when hospitalized, and institutions like St. Tammany Health System are going the extra mile for the safety of adults living with diabetes,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate St. Tammany for being one of 37 hospitals across the U.S. to earn this distinction.”
Osagie Ebekozien, MD, MPH, the American Diabetes Association’s chief quality officer, added: “We congratulate these hospitals for demonstrating a commitment to safety and care that reflects the needs of those living with diabetes. Moving evidence-based standards of care into practice is the cornerstone of improving health outcomes and the lives of those living with diabetes.”
Recognized hospitals were assessed both on the implementation of these processes and on how well they execute care delivered to patients. Among the standards recognized are:
- Blood glucose (blood sugar) testing and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) protocols.
- Specialized preparation for inpatient surgery.
- Meal and insulin regimen planning.
- Robust discharge planning for high-risk patients with diabetes.
- Patient safety standards.
Learn more about the Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes designation, including full details on the standards and instructions for hospitals applying for the recognition, at LeapfrogGroup.org.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life. Together, west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders represent the most complete system of care, aligning behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is A+ rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit organization driving a movement for patient safety and transparency. Leapfrog collects, analyzes, and publicly reports data on hospital and ambulatory surgery center performance to help patients, purchasers, and other stakeholders make informed health care decisions. Leapfrog’s flagship initiatives include the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a biannual letter grade focused exclusively on hospital safety, and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, a voluntary survey that publicly reports hospital performance on patient safety and quality measures. Leapfrog’s ratings and reports are peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. For more from Leapfrog, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure diabetes—and we’re not stopping. There are over 155 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we’re fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).