MADERA, Calif. – Valley Children’s Healthcare reported another year of strong patient safety performance in 2025, driven by long-term reductions in hospital-acquired infections and recognition as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals for patient safety.
Leaders credited the results to the dedication of physicians, staff and volunteers who continue working to improve care for children across the Central Valley.
A highlight of the newly released data was Valley Children’s continued reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infections. The infections, which occur when bacteria enter the bloodstream through a central line, have been reduced by 97% since 2012.
The improvement also marks progress over the previous year, when a 92% reduction was reported.
RELATED: Valley Children’s Recognized as Top Children’s Hospital by Leapfrog Group for Sixth Time
Other improvements in quality and patient safety include:
- Zero ventilator-associated pneumonias – a type of lung infection that can develop in patients on ventilators – reported in eight of the last nine years.
- 94% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections since 2012, one of the most common healthcare-associated infections nationwide.
- 92% reduction of surgical site infections since 2012.
- 92% reduction in unplanned extubations in NICU and a 77% reduction in PICU since 2016. An unplanned extubation occurs when a breathing tube is accidentally removed.
- 100% reduction in peripheral IV infiltration and extravasation events with serious harm since 2018, which occur when IV fluids leak out of the vein and into surrounding tissue.
- 99% compliance with hand hygiene protocols as of Sept. 30, 2025.
In addition to its quality metric achievements in 2025, Valley Children’s was also named a Top Children’s Hospital by The Leapfrog Group for the sixth time. The national designation recognizes hospitals that excel in quality and safety measures, including infection prevention, safe surgical practices and systems that reduce medication errors.
For a breakdown of the metrics and to see how they’ve progressed over time, click here.
