b'L E A P F R O G R E G I O N A L L E A D E R S D I A G N O S T I C E X C E L L E N C E P R O J E C T LEAPFROGSDiagnostic errors contribute to 40,000-80,000 deaths a year, with over 250,000 REACH ISAmericans experiencing a diagnostic error in hospitals. Reducing harm to patients from diagnostic errors is the new frontier in patient safety. IMMEASURABLY INCREASED BYLeapfrog is taking on the problem by bringing together experts, clinicians, THE EFFORTSpatient advocates, and employers to identify what hospitals can do to prevent these errors from harming their patients. As part of our Recognizing OF A NETWORKExcellence in Diagnosis Initiative funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore OF VOLUNTEERFoundation, Leapfrog released a landmark report titled Recognizing Excellence in Diagnosis: Recommended Practices for HospitalsORGANIZATIONS.ACROSS THEWhile identifying strategies to address this problem is helpful, Leapfrogs COUNTRY CALLEDunique ability to galvanize major change comes from the next steps ahead: LEAPFROGsetting exacting standards for excellence and reporting by hospital on achievement of those standards. In 2022, Leapfrog is piloting a survey withREGIONAL115 hospitals, designed to assess hospitals familiarity with and progress LEADERS.towards implementing the recommended practices. The findings from thepilot will guide Leapfrogs approach to rating hospitals on their quality ofJILL BERGER, LEAPFROGcare in diagnosis. DIRECTOR, EMPLOYER & PAYOR ENGAGEMENT B I L L I N G E T H I C S Billing practices have a powerful impact on health care quality. Too often, patients are sued for not having paid bills averaging less than $900, even if they were not told in advance how much they would owe, or that they might be eligible for financial assistance. Hospitals and ASCs should abandon the practice of suing patients and provide patients with readily understandable bills that list services and charges, and make sure important information, like how to apply for financial assistance, is in the patients preferred language for medical decision-making. Unless hospitals and ASCs take these steps, their patients can incur financial hardships that make them less likely to seek medical care in the future. Leapfrog added questions to its Surveys in 2021 to assess whether hospitals and ASCs practice ethical billing and began scoring and publicly reporting facilities this year.HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE DEPENDS ON TWO STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES: PUTTING THE PATIENT FIRST EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, LEAH BINDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE LEAPFROG GROUPANNUAL REPORT 2021-20227'