Awards and recognition

Lake Region Healthcare was recognized on Newsweek’s list of World’s Best Hospitals 2022. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on March 2, 2022 on Newsweek’s website.

Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) has been named one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the U.S. in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022. The Top 100 recognition comes from The National Rural Health Association's Rural Health Policy Institute, iVantage Health Analytics and The Chartis Center for Rural Health. These well-respected organizations analyzed and studied publicly reported data and hospital information, then determined the top performers in key areas such as quality of care, costs and patient satisfaction.

Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was awarded an 'A' from The Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Grade for the Fall 2022, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019 and Fall 2018 rating periods. The designation recognizes LRH's efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

Lake Region Healthcare has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval. Because The Joint Commission standards are regarded as the most rigorous in the industry, hospitals that participate in this accreditation process also commit to providing the highest level of quality patient care. The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval has been earned by Lake Region Healthcare since 1954 and provides clear evidence that we demonstrate compliance to the most stringent standards of performance.

Lake Region Healthcare has also been awarded the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) program certification for its outstanding cardiac rehabilitation program. The AACVPR certification recognizes programs that have been rigorously reviewed and meet the AACVPR requirements for exceptionally high standards of care.

The Lake Region Hospital Laboratory successfully completed an inspection process resulting in a College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation. This places Lake Region Healthcare in an exclusive group of laboratories worldwide that have met the maximum standards of excellence. The program's goal is to improve patient safety by advancing the quality of pathology and laboratory services through education, standard-setting, and ensuring laboratories meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

The Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Rolls encourage commitment to antibiotic stewardship across the state. It is designed to encourage commitment to antibiotic stewardship from highest levels of administration to prescribers and caregivers and to publicize the importance of antibiotic responsibility. The Honor Roll is supported by Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Hospital Association, Stratis Health, Association for Professionals in Infection Control, Leading Age Minnesota, Care Providers of Minnesota, and promoted on behalf of the Collaborative Healthcare-Associated Infection Network.

Lake Region Healthcare has been recognized as one of America's high-performing hospitals in the gynecology specialty area in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" 2011–12 edition. U.S. News surveyed nearly 10,000 specialists and sifted through data for almost 5,000 hospitals to rank the best. Death rates, patient safety and hospital reputation were a few of the factors considered. Lake Region Healthcare's gynecology department scored particularly high in patient safety with a superior rating, demonstrating commitment to reducing accidents and medical mistakes.

Lake Region Hospital was named one of the country's top 100 hospitals in performance improvement in 2006. The designation is based on the study of publicly available data from 2001 to 2006. In addition to patient outcomes, the study's authors reviewed hospital statistics for patient safety, hospital efficiency, financial stability and growth.

We have received the following awards from the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA):

The MHA Patient Safety Excellence Award is given to hospitals that are actively participating in one of MHA's safety campaigns and achieve 90 percent or higher of campaign roadmap steps.

The Patient Safety Excellence Award for work on preventing pressure ulcers through the SAFE SKIN initiative:
The SAFE SKIN Road Map to a Comprehensive Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program provides a detailed list of recommended actions that are organized under the SAFE SKIN acronym:

• Safety coordination.
• Accurate and concurrent reporting.
• Facility expectations, staff education and accountability.
• Education for patients and families.
• Skin inspection and risk assessment.
• Keep pressure off—minimize pressure, friction and shear.
• Incontinence/moisture protection.
• Nutrition.

The Patient Safety Excellence Award for work on preventing adverse surgical events (the wrong procedure being performed, or a procedure being performed on the wrong body part or patient) through the SAFE SITE initiative:
The Road Map to a Comprehensive SAFE SITE Procedure Program provides a detailed list of recommended actions that are organized under the SAFE SITE acronym:

• Safe site team.
• Access to information.
• Facility expectations.
• Educate staff and patients.
• Sign site with initials.
• Informed consent.
• Time out.
• Effective communication.

The Patient Safety Excellence Award for work on preventing patients from falling during hospital stays through the SAFE from FALLS initiative:
The SAFE from FALLS Road Map to a Comprehensive Falls Prevention Program provides a detailed list of recommended actions that are organized under the SAFE from FALLS acronym:

• Safety coordination.
• Accurate and concurrent reporting.
• Facility expectations, staff education and accountability.
• Education for patients and families.
• Fall-risk screening.
• Assessment of risk factors.
• Linked interventions.
• Learn from events.
• Safe environment.

The SAFE COUNT campaign aims to prevent objects, such as sponges, from being retained after a patient gives birth. The SAFE COUNT Road Map to Preventing Retained Objects in Vaginal Deliveries provides a detailed list of recommended actions that are organized under the SAFE COUNT acronym:

• SAFE COUNT teams.
• Access to information.
• Facility expectations.
• Educate staff.
• Count sponges, sharps and other items.
• Obtain post-delivery imaging.
• Use of whiteboard or other visual documentation.
• Never use anything but radiopaque.
• Time-out: "Pause for the Gauze."

The SAFE ACCOUNT campaign aims to prevent objects from being retained after a patient has surgery. The SAFE ACCOUNT Road Map to Preventing Retained Objects in the O.R. provides a detailed list of recommended actions:

• SAFE ACCOUNT teams.
• Access to information.
• Facility expectations.
• Educate staff.