BLUE HILL — Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital was named a Top Rural Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, this award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive, according to the hospital, in a news release.

“I am incredibly proud of Blue Hill Hospital’s providers and staff,” said John Ronan, president, Northern Light Blue Hill and Maine Coast Hospitals, in the release. “The healthcare team working at this hospital is certainly deserving of this recognition. Quality and safety efforts are a top priority as we do our best to put our patients first everyday in all that we do.”

The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers widely acknowledged as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality. More than 2,200 hospitals were considered for the Top Hospital Awards. Among those, Blue Hill Hospital, along with 18 others, received a Top Rural distinction.

“Being recognized as a Top Hospital is an extraordinary feat and we are honored to recognize Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital this year,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Despite the extraordinary pressure and strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, they demonstrated an unwavering dedication to patients and to the Blue Hill community. We congratulate the board, staff and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible.”

To qualify for the Top Hospitals distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards for quality and patient safety and achieve top performance in its category.

To see the full list of institutions honored as 2020 Top Hospitals, visit www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.