Three St. Louis Area Mercy Hospitals Earn A Grades for Patient Safety from The Leapfrog Group

ST. LOUIS – Eleven Mercy hospitals earned an A grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog, out of only 917 hospitals nationwide to earn this distinction. Locally, Mercy Jefferson, Mercy St. Louis and Mercy Washington are three of only 11 hospitals across Missouri to earn the top grade.

“For patients and families, an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group means you can trust that your safety is our highest priority – every day, in every interaction,” said Kat Nelson, Mercy chief quality officer. “It reflects the dedication of our caregivers to consistently delivering the highest standards of quality and patient-centered care.”

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. 

Other Mercy hospitals to earn the highest rating include Mercy Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas in Arkansas; Mercy Pittsburg in Kansas; Mercy Lebanon, Mercy Southeast in Missouri; and Mercy Ada, Mercy Ardmore and Mercy Oklahoma City in Oklahoma.

Six Mercy hospitals also 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 this recognition. Mercy hospitals with Straight A designations are in Fort Smith and Rogers in Arkansas; Pittsburg, Kansas; Washington, Missouri; and Ada and Oklahoma City in Oklahoma.

“An A Grade is a strong sign that Mercy 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.