hospital safety

The legislation has been praised by health workers. The Florida Hospital Association says the law will lead to safer working conditions and better patient care.

Average rates for MRSA along with bloodline and urinary tract infections rose to five-year highs, according to the report. Many Florida hospitals received A-ratings, while others saw their grades go down.

Policies mandating company approval before talking publicly about conditions in hospitals have been a source of conflict. An appeals court decision could lead to a change in those policies.

Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis said he wants to discourage violence on city properties by declaring them “Hit-Free zones.”

The latest Hospital Safety Scores released by the not-for-profit watchdog Leapfrog Group show less than 25 percent of general, acute-care hospitals in...