The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade is an A-F letter grade that evaluates 30 measures of hospital performance, with a strong emphasis on patient safety. It is an evidence-based survey, and its peer-reviewed methodology ensures credibility and transparency.
Updated twice a year, each hospital’s Leapfrog safety rating is based on performance, quality, and safety measures consistent with those monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Introduction to Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a nationally recognized, consumer-friendly letter grade system that evaluates nearly 3,000 general hospitals across the United States on their ability to protect patients from harm. Developed by the Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit watchdog organization, the safety grade provides a clear and accessible way for patients and their families to evaluate hospital safety. Each hospital receives a letter grade—ranging from A to F—based on evidence-based measures of patient safety, including rates of infections, medical errors, and other preventable harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade empowers patients to make informed decisions about where to receive care, while encouraging hospitals to prioritize safety and continually improve their standards. By shining a spotlight on hospital safety, The Leapfrog Group helps ensure that hospitals remain accountable for delivering the highest quality of care. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is updated twice a year, in the spring and fall, to reflect the most current hospital data and performance outcomes.
Understanding Hospital Safety Grades
Hospital Safety Grades are determined by evaluating a hospital’s performance on a comprehensive set of patient safety measures. These include the use of advanced technologies such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, which help doctors order medications safely, and bar code medication administration (BCMA), which reduces the risk of medication errors. The presence of specially trained doctors in the intensive care unit (ICU) and robust protocols for critical care medicine are also key factors. This dynamic grading system allows patients to compare hospital safety grades and make informed choices about their care.
The Importance of Safety in Health Care
Patient safety is at the heart of quality health care, and hospitals play a crucial role in safeguarding patients from preventable harm. The Leapfrog Hospital Survey and the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade are essential tools that help hospitals prioritize safety and quality. By participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, hospitals can identify opportunities to reduce preventable medical mistakes, such as medication errors and hospital-acquired infections. The transparent, evidence-based Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade offers patients a straightforward way to assess hospital safety. These initiatives drive continuous improvement, helping hospitals implement best practices and deliver safer, more effective care to every patient.
“Must Have” Insights for Patients
ApolloMD experts work closely with partner hospitals to enhance their commitment to patient safety and quality of care. “At ApolloMD, we provide constant feedback and communication to our individual providers and partner hospitals regarding strategies to improve patient care,” Springer states. “Their attentiveness to our input and their dedication to enhancing patient safety and experiences are evident in the ratings they achieve.”
She highlights the Patient Safety Organization, an outcome-oriented initiative that monitors and evaluates reports to identify opportunities for improvement in care across all partner facilities, thus enhancing outcomes and safety throughout the ApolloMD network.
“We learn from these cases, investigate them thoroughly, and disseminate enterprise safety alerts to all our hospital partners. The insights gained from these improvement opportunities are communicated proactively to ensure the highest quality of care,” she states.
Helpful Advice for Clinicians and Patients
Springer encourages clinicians to listen carefully to each patient (and family member) to avoid missing key information or questions that could signify a different diagnosis or the need for further testing.
To patients, she offers straightforward advice: “You must be your own advocate. You know what’s wrong; you know yourself better than anyone else. The more you advocate for yourself, the more likely you are to achieve a positive outcome.”
With some emergency departments seeing 50 or more patients in a single day, it is crucial for patients to voice their concerns, particularly when their symptoms or health history are atypical or not commonly encountered by physicians.
“Patients need to advocate for themselves or have a family member or friend do so for them, especially in emergencies when a patient may be incapacitated or unable to think clearly,” she explains. “When possible, having an advocate present or self-advocating provides a more complete picture of your status, fostering an environment for better outcomes.”
2025 marks the 13th year that Leapfrog has published its annual safety report. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Survey for 2025 incorporates several notable updates to reflect evolving standards in hospital safety.
View the full details on these changes by clicking below.
