A new report published on Wednesday by the Leapfrog Group highlights that 17 hospitals in Maryland have received 'A' grades, indicating strong performance in safeguarding patients from preventable harm.
The Leapfrog Group's Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades evaluate general hospitals across the United States, assigning letter grades from 'A' to 'F' based on their success in preventing medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections.
In this latest assessment, one hospital in Maryland received a 'D' grade, while 12 others were rated 'C'. Notably, Maryland ranks 8th nationally for the proportion of hospitals achieving 'A' grades, a significant improvement from previous years when the state was often found in the bottom 20.
According to Leapfrog, the report reflects advancements in 17 key safety measures, including reductions in healthcare-associated infections and enhancements in medication safety systems. Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog, commented on the positive trends, stating that hospitals nationwide are making substantial progress in patient safety, ultimately saving lives.
The report indicates a marked decline in several healthcare-associated infections. For instance, central line-associated bloodstream infections decreased by 50%, while catheter-associated urinary tract infections saw a 45% drop. Additionally, cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections fell by 42%, and serious intestinal infections linked to antibiotic use decreased by 30%.
Improvements were also noted in medication safety practices. The use of computerized physician order entry systems, which help identify prescribing errors, rose from 66% of hospitals meeting Leapfrog standards in 2018 to 90% in 2025. Similarly, the adoption of barcode medication administration systems increased from 47% to 93% during the same timeframe.
Patient experience scores, assessed through Medicare and other federal surveys, improved after reaching a low in fall 2023, showing an average increase of about one point across five safety-related measures.
Connecticut, Virginia, and South Carolina led the nation with the highest shares of A-rated hospitals, followed closely by states including Utah, Montana, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, and California. This marks the first time both Montana and Maryland have entered the top 10 rankings.
Reported by HarborBeat based on Patch (source).
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