Nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States, including Washington, D.C., received letter grades from the Leapfrog Group based on various patient safety measures. This fall, California hospitals received high marks, ranking 6th in the nation alongside Rhode Island for their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections. Notably, nearly 45% of the 286 hospitals in California achieved an “A” grade this season, an improvement from the 42.8% reported in the spring rankings.
In the San Diego metropolitan area, 12 hospitals earned an “A” grade, while six received a “B” and one was given a “C.” This grading highlights a trend observed by Leapfrog, indicating that hospitals with higher ratings often belong to larger health systems. In fact, 94% of hospitals that received an “A” grade were affiliated with such networks, which are organizations owning or managing multiple healthcare facilities.
The report revealed that over 830 hospitals nationwide achieved an “A” grade, with the top states for high safety ratings being Utah, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Conversely, states like Iowa, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming reported no hospitals receiving an “A” rating.
Leapfrog utilizes a variety of data sources, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, to evaluate hospitals. Specifically, 22 aspects of patient health and safety are measured, and researchers assess the evidence, opportunities for improvement, and the potential impact of each measure to determine grades. Notably, hospitals that do not provide data across more than six categories are not ranked at all.
These ratings assist patients and their families in identifying hospitals that prioritize safety, focusing on those with successful records in areas such as preventing infections, encouraging hand hygiene, training medical staff, and effective communication regarding prescriptions. With these improvements reflected in the rankings, hospitals are showing a dedicated direction toward enhancing patient care and safety.