Mercy Hospitals in Arkansas Earn A Grades for Patient Safety

Mercy Hospitals in Arkansas have earned A grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog. Mercy Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas were among 917 hospitals nationwide to earn this distinction and two of only eight in the state.

In addition, both Mercy Arkansas hospitals earned Straight A designations from Leapfrog, highlighting a long-standing dedication to patient safety and quality care. Hospitals must receive an A grade five grading periods in a row in Leapfrog’s twice-annual Hospital Safety Grade assessments to achieve Straight A recognition. Mercy Fort Smith has received 20 A grades in a row dating to 2016, while Mercy NWA has received 14 straight A grades from Leapfrog.

Leapfrog assigns an A to F grade to hospitals using 32 evidence-based measures of patient safety focused on errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

“Twenty straight A grades is rare — and it’s powerful,” said Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Fort Smith Communities. “This milestone is proof that safety isn’t a slogan here; it’s how we operate. Our caregivers show up every day determined to protect our patients and earn their trust, and this recognition puts an exclamation point on their incredible work.”

“Earning Straight A recognition at both Mercy Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas speaks to something bigger – it reflects a culture of safety that is deeply embedded across Mercy Arkansas,” said Rhett Stover, president of Mercy Northwest Arkansas Communities. “These results come from consistent systems, relentless attention to detail and caregivers who never lose sight of what matters most: protecting patients and delivering the highest quality care, every time, at every location. We are so grateful for their dedication.”

Nine other Mercy hospitals have earned the highest rating, including Mercy Pittsburg in Kansas; Mercy Jefferson, Mercy Lebanon, Mercy Southeast, Mercy St. Louis and Mercy Washington in Missouri; and Mercy Ada, Mercy Ardmore and Mercy Oklahoma City in Oklahoma. In addition to 11 A grades overall, four other Mercy hospitals earned Leapfrog’s Straight A designation, including Pittsburg, Washington, Ada and Oklahoma City.  

“An A Grade is a strong sign that Mercy Arkansas Hospitals are deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

To see Mercy’s full grade details, along with our competitors’, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.

About Leapfrog
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.