Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade: What to Check Before a Stay

Your doctor recommends a procedure at a nearby hospital. You check your calendar, arrange a ride, and call your insurance company. But before you finalize the plans, there’s another question worth asking: How well does this hospital protect its patients from harm?

You may know the hospital’s name or have friends who received care there. Checking its Leapfrog hospital safety grade gives you another piece of information to discuss with your doctor, especially when you have time to choose where a planned procedure will take place.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization, assigns letter grades to many general hospitals based on how well they protect patients from preventable harm. That includes medical errors, infections, and injuries.

The grade combines information about safety practices with information about patient outcomes. For example, it considers systems designed to prevent medication errors as well as certain complications that occur during care. Grades are updated twice a year. Learn how the grades work.

Think of the grade as a starting point for questions. It doesn’t tell you everything about a hospital’s experience treating your condition, and it cannot guarantee how your care will turn out. Your health needs and your doctor’s recommendations still belong in the decision.

You may have seen recent headlines about a lawsuit involving Leapfrog’s grades. A September 28^th Reuters article describes a dispute brought by five Florida hospitals over how Leapfrog scored missing information from hospitals that did not participate in its survey.

The hospitals won in the trial court. Leapfrog is appealing, arguing that its ratings reflect judgments protected by free speech. The hospitals argue that the grading approach misled consumers. Read the Reuters report.

For you, the practical point is to understand what a rating measures and look at the details behind it. A letter grade can help you begin a conversation, but it shouldn’t be your only reason for choosing a hospital.

Visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and search by hospital name or location to find its Leapfrog hospital safety grade. Make sure you’re looking at the facility where your procedure will take place.

Open the results and check the date. Look at the individual safety measures, too. If something concerns you or isn’t clear, write it down to discuss with your doctor or the hospital.

If you don’t find a grade, don’t assume the hospital is unsafe. Leapfrog doesn’t grade every type of facility, and some hospitals lack enough information to receive a grade. Ask what safety information the hospital can share.

Suppose the hospital recommended for your procedure has a lower grade than another nearby facility. Before changing your plans, ask your doctor to help you understand the difference and how it relates to your care.

Useful questions include:

Your doctor can discuss your medical needs and available options. The hospital’s patient relations or quality team may be able to explain specific safety results. For planned care, confirm coverage with your insurer before changing facilities.

Your insurance network, location, or need for specialized treatment may limit where you can go. Safety information can still help you prepare for a conversation with the care team.

Ask how to raise a concern during your stay and whom a family member should contact if they need help. You can also ask the team to explain how it checks medications and prevents infections. Understanding those practices gives you specific things to discuss without making you responsible for the hospital’s safety.

If you have a hospital visit coming up, look up the facility and bring one or two questions to your doctor. Knowing where you’ll receive care is part of the plan. Understanding why that hospital is right for you should be, too.

Explore our health and safety resources before your next appointment.

For more on why hospital safety information matters, listen to “Leapfrog: The Grade That Could Save Your Life”, Health Action Council’s podcast featuring Leah Binder of The Leapfrog Group. You can also watch the episode on YouTube.

This information is for education and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional. For a suspected life-threatening emergency, call 911. Don’t delay emergency care to research or compare hospital ratings.

Sources: The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grade: About the Grade, Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Search, Reuters Lawsuit Over Hospital Grades Becomes Free Speech Showdown, HHS Office of Inspector General Adverse Events in Hospitals Report, Health Action Council Podcast: Leapfrog: The Grade That Could Save Your Life

This site does not provide medical advice. The information on Find the Right Care is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to your doctor or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not delay seeking care because of something you read here.