What do Others Say about the Organization?

UM Capital is not listed as a Malcolm Baldridge Award recipient. Organizations may

choose to apply for the Malcolm Baldrige Award for several reasons. Winning the award

provides recognition and prestige, demonstrating the organization's dedication to excellence

(Smith & Ulmer, 2019). The Baldrige framework offers a holistic approach to organizational

improvement, helping identify areas for enhancement and increasing competitiveness (Smith &

Ulmer, 2019). The application process promotes learning and growth within the organization,

fostering a culture of continuous improvement (Smith & Ulmer, 2019). Participation allows

benchmarking against best practices and adopting proven strategies, while emphasizing customer

satisfaction and organizational alignment (Smith & Ulmer, 2019). Ultimately, the Baldrige

framework nurtures a culture of innovation and adaptability, enabling organizations to showcase

their commitment to excellence and gain valuable insights through the rigorous application

process (Smith & Ulmer, 2019). Further, the organization did not list other certifications such as

Stroke or Cardiac designations.

Additionally, UM Capital is not Magnet designated. However, Magnet designation would

potentially bring several benefits to the organization. It can enhance the facility's reputation,

attract and retain top nursing talent, improve nurse satisfaction and engagement, and lead to

positive patient outcomes (Tai et al., 2023). Besides, magnet designation signifies nursing

excellence, a supportive work environment, and a commitment to continuous improvement,

which would ultimately promote a culture of excellence and quality care at the organization (Tai

et al., 2023).

Public Reported information about the facility

 Overall, UM Capital performs poorly in compared to all hospitals nationally for the five

categories of quality measures including mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient

experience, and timely and effective care. Specifically, the hospital’s overall star rating for the

five categories is 1 out of 5 (Medicare.gov, 2023). With regard to mortality, the hospital reported

7 out of 7 measures and all were similar to the national average. In the ‘Safety of Care’ category,

it reported 6 out of 8 measures, with 1, 4, and 1 measures above, same as, and below the national

average, respectively (Medicare.gov., 2023). In the ‘Readmission’ category, the hospital reported

8 out of 11 measures, with 7 measures being similar to the national average and one below

national average (Medicare.gov, 2023). The hospital is not rated in the ‘Patient Experience’

category. This could be because it had not achieved at least 100 completed HCAHPs surveys in

the reporting period to be eligible for this measure group (Medicare.gov, 2023). Nevertheless,

the hospital reported 7 out of the 12 measures reported in the ‘Timely and Effective Care’

category but the scores are not indicated (Medicare.gov, 2023).

Looking at the results of the specific categories, the hospital’s performance is similar to

the national average in a greater proportion of the measures. The hospital has various

opportunities for improvement that can ensure it performs above national average in most quality

measures. Improving hospital performance in all measures of quality requires a comprehensive

approach. It involves establishing a culture of quality, developing effective leadership, enhancing

communication and collaboration, implementing evidence-based practices, continuously

monitoring and measuring performance, embracing technology and innovation, and fostering a

culture of continuous improvement among others (Niñerola et al., 2020). By implementing these

strategies, the hospital can enhance patient care, improve outcomes, and drive overall

organizational success.
 Leapfrog Scores

UM Capital’s LeapFrog score is ‘D’ (The LeapFrog Group, 2023). A LeapFrog score of

D indicates that a hospital or healthcare facility has achieved a below-average performance in

terms of patient safety and quality. The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization, assigns letter

grades (A, B, C, D, or F) to hospitals based on their performance in various areas such as

preventing errors, infections, and accidents (Tai et al., 2023). A score of ‘D’ suggests that the

hospital may have opportunities for improvement in providing safe and high-quality care to

patients (Tai et al., 2023). It indicates the need for implementing strategies to enhance patient

safety protocols, improve clinical outcomes, and address any deficiencies identified in the

Leapfrog evaluation (Tai et al., 2023).

Conclusion

UM Capital is not a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige Award or Magnet designation.

However, applying for these recognitions can bring prestige and promote organizational

excellence. The hospital performs poorly compared to national averages in measures of quality,

and its Leapfrog score is 'D', indicating below-average performance in patient safety and quality.

Improving in all quality measures requires a comprehensive approach, including establishing a

culture of quality, effective leadership, evidence-based practices, and continuous improvement.

Addressing deficiencies and implementing strategies to enhance patient safety protocols are

crucial for improvement. Overall, UM Capital has opportunities for growth and can strive for

excellence in patient care and outcomes.

 References

Medicare.gov. (2023). University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. MD - Hospital

Safety Grade. https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/h/university-of-maryland-capital-

region-medical-center?findBy=hospital&hospital=University%2Bof%2BMaryland

%2BCapital%2BRegion%2BMedical%2BCenter&rPos=271&rSort=grade

Niñerola, A., Sánchez-Rebull, M. V., & Hernández-Lara, A. B. (2020). Quality improvement in

healthcare: Six Sigma systematic review. Health Policy, 124(4), 438-445.

Smith, L., & Ulmer, J. M. (2019). An Analytical Review of the Malcolm Baldrige National

Quality Award. Science and Technology Publishing, 3(1), 123-127.

Tai, T. W. C., Mattie, A., Miller, S. M., & Yawson, R. M. (2023). An examination of Leapfrog

safety measures and Magnet designation. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 42(3-

4), 21-29.

The LeapFrog Group. (2023). University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. MD -

Hospital Safety Grade. https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/h/university-of-maryland-

capital-region-medical-center?findBy=hospital&hospital=University%2Bof%2BMaryland

%2BCapital%2BRegion%2BMedical%2BCenter&rPos=271&rSort=grade