WASHINGTON, Mo. – Mercy Hospital Washington earned an A grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog. Mercy Washington was among 917 hospitals nationwide to earn this distinction and one of only 11 in the state. With A grades since 2023, it also earned the elite designation as a Straight A hospital.
“Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do, and this honor affirms the dedication of our entire Mercy Washington team,” said Christina Mayberry, Mercy Hospital Washington director of quality improvement. “To be one of only 11 hospitals in Missouri to earn an A grade, and to do so consistently, demonstrates our promise to provide high‑quality, safe care for the communities we are privileged to serve.”
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.
Ten other Mercy hospitals have earned the highest rating, including Mercy Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas in Arkansas; Mercy Pittsburg in Kansas; Mercy Jefferson, Mercy Lebanon, Mercy Southeast and Mercy St. Louis in Missouri; and Mercy Ada, Mercy Ardmore and Mercy Oklahoma City in Oklahoma. In addition to 11 A grades overall, six Mercy hospitals earned Leapfrog’s Straight A designation, 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 hospitals with Straight A designations are in Fort Smith and Rogers in Arkansas; Pittsburg, Kansas; and Ada and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma.
“An A Grade is a strong sign that Mercy Washington is 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.
