Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Phoenix Children’s Hospital was named a Top Children’s Hospital by The Leapfrog Group for the fourth time. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is awarded by The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization.  

The Top Hospital Award comes following the hospital’s “A” Hospital Safety Grade, also from The Leapfrog Group.  

“Arizona’s children deserve consistent, excellent, high-quality care and patient safety,” said Bob Meyer, president and CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “Receiving the Leapfrog award for the fourth time underscores the exceptional standards our staff strive to meet each day. We continue to reexamine our quality improvement processes and patient experience and never settle for the status quo.”

Among thousands of hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s received a Top Children’s Hospital distinction, recognized nationally alongside:

• 13 Top Children’s Hospitals

• 35 Top General Hospitals

• 17 Top Rural Hospitals

• 53 Top Teaching Hospitals

Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The rigorous standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.

“Being acknowledged as a Top Hospital is an incredible feat achieved by less than six percent of eligible hospitals nationwide,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “With this honor, Phoenix Children’s has established its commitment to safer and higher quality care. Providing this level of care to patients in Phoenix requires motivation and drive from every team member. I congratulate the board, staff and clinicians, whose efforts made this honor possible.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must submit a Leapfrog Hospital Survey and achieve highest performance in its category. The selection of Top Hospitals 2018 is based on surveys from nearly 1,900 hospitals. To see the full list of institutions honored as 2018 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

PCH announces toy drive with local restaurant

This holiday season, Babbo Italian Eatery and Phoenix Children’s Hospital are excited to announce a partnership for the hospital’s annual Toyland drive. The end of the year is an exciting time for all – especially children. Some kids won’t be able to go home for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean they can’t unwrap a gift.

“We are so excited to partner with a local business like Babbo Italian Eatery,” said corporate development officer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Kim Ho. “Toyland is an incredible event and seeing these kids’ faces every year is absolutely priceless.”

This year, Babbo generously donated $43,000 to support patient families and programs like Toyland. From Nov. 23 to Dec. 20, all eight Babbo Italian Eatery locations in Metro Phoenix will act as a drop off point for the public to donate gift cards and new, unwrapped toys. For anyone that goes to a Babbo Italian Eatery and donates to Toyland, Babbo will offer a $5 bounce back card off of a $25 purchase. 

“My family and I really believe in Phoenix Children’s and all that they do for the kids,” said Babbo Italian Eatery owner, Ken Pollack. “This is what the season is all about.”

On December 24, Babbo employees, volunteers and staff will transform an area inside Phoenix Children’s into a magical winter Toyland. Parents of patients hospitalized over the holidays will have an opportunity to select unwrapped toys from an array of donated items – at no charge.

In addition to people being able to drop off at Babbo, Phoenix Children’s will also be accepting gift cards and new toy donations starting Dec. 8 through the 24 during a variety of hours. Only brand new toys will be accepted. No food, candy, homemade items, or toys with violent themes will be accepted. A list of gifts that are needed, along with information on drop off times and location can be found at THIS LINK.

WHEN: People can drop off gift cards and new, unwrapped gifts at any Babbo Italian Eatery location from Nov. 23 to Dec. 20. Phoenix Children’s donations will be accepted Dec. 8 to 24 during varying hours. See the Hospital website for a complete calendar.