Top U.S. Hospitals Recognized For Outstanding Safety Culture, Evacuation Plans

All 18 Honor Roll Hospitals Equipped With Med Sled® Emergency Evacuation Sleds

ST. LOUIS, MO (January 28, 2014) – The number one preferred emergency evacuation device used in hospitals across the country is now in all 18 of the top medical centers in America. The Med Sled® emergency evacuation sled has been outfitted in each health organization named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals. This is the first year where each of the ranked Honor Roll hospitals has demonstrated both superior medical specialties and lifesaving emergency evacuation equipment.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates approximately 5,000 U.S. hospitals to identify the best medical centers grouped by 16 different specialties for the most at-risk patients. Rankings are based on an extensive analysis of the hospital’s performance in three primary dimensions of healthcare: structure, process and outcomes. Safety culture is one of the key metrics for evaluating hospital performance and only 18 hospitals made the 2013-14 Honor Roll list.

“We congratulate the 2013-14 U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll Hospitals,” said Clifford Adkins, CEO of Med Sled®. “To be the best they must have a focus on excellence in every aspect of their hospital, including patient and staff safety. We are proud that all 18 Honor Roll Hospitals have chosen Med Sled® as their emergency evacuation equipment. When the best of the best choose Med Sled® it says something about our people, our service and our products.”

In October 2012, NYU Langone Medical Center, one of the top-ranked hospitals, safely evacuated patients during Superstorm Sandy using Med Sled® evacuation sleds. Nurses, doctors and administrators used the Med Sled® sleds to efficiently evacuate patients down stairwells of their 18-story hospital. Med Sled®’s on board braking device allowed hospital staff to safely move non-ambulatory patients, including a woman in labor and an ICU liver transplant patient, down the stairwells.

“We care deeply and passionately about evacuation and how our product can help save lives,” continued Adkins. “Our goal is to continue to work with hospitals, nursing homes and educational institutions on effectively and efficiently implementing emergency preparedness plans – and most importantly, the equipment – that incorporate the key lessons learned from past disasters and best practices in the industry.”

There are over 45,000 Med Sled® evacuation devices currently in use in over 3,000 facilities, including the top 18 hospitals in the country. Med Sled® offers a full line of evacuation equipment that can move the smallest NICU patient (2.5lbs) to the largest bariatric patient (800+lbs).  Med Sled® representatives work with hospitals, nursing homes, schools and businesses to assist in their emergency evacuation planning, including conducting Equipment Needs Assessments, evacuation protocol review, employee training and drill support.

For a full list of the Best Hospitals, click here.