Top US Hospitals Recognized for Patient Safety Excellence in New Report

Hundreds of hospitals across the United States are receiving recognition for their exceptional patient safety records, with five states emerging as clear leaders in high-quality care. According to a new report released this month by Healthgrades, a total of 438 hospitals across 40 states rank among the nation’s top 10% for patient safety excellence.

Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania lead the nation in total award recipients, with counts ranging from 21 to 62 hospitals. The high concentration of recognized facilities in these states may partly reflect their larger populations and higher number of healthcare institutions, according to a Healthgrades spokesperson.

“The prevalence of recipients in a particular state could be related to something as simple as that state having a large number of hospitals,” the spokesperson told MedPage Today.

The annual Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award evaluates hospitals based on 13 critical patient safety indicators, measuring facilities’ ability to prevent serious, avoidable complications during hospital stays. The analysis draws from Medicare inpatient data, examining outcomes such as complications, mortality rates, and preventable safety events.

Patients treated at these award-winning hospitals experienced dramatically lower risks of common and serious safety events. Compared to other facilities, these hospitals demonstrated remarkable performance: 52.4% lower likelihood of in-hospital falls resulting in fractures; 57.5% lower risk of procedure-related collapsed lungs; 67.8% fewer catheter-related bloodstream infections; and 71.9% reduction in pressure sores.

These four indicators alone represent approximately 78% of all patient safety events, according to Healthgrades. The organization estimates that if all hospitals performed at the same level as the award recipients, more than 100,000 patient safety events could have been avoided between 2022 and 2024.

“The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “Hospitals that prioritize evidence-based safety practices not only achieve better clinical outcomes but also cultivate a culture where patients come first.”

To qualify for the award, hospitals must meet stringent clinical thresholds and report zero cases of certain serious errors, such as leaving foreign objects inside patients during procedures. Overall, 250 hospitals ranked in the top 5% nationwide for safety, including facilities affiliated with major healthcare systems like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and HCA Healthcare.

Major metropolitan areas saw strong representation, with Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and New York City all home to multiple recognized hospitals. This geographic concentration highlights both strengths and disparities in the American healthcare system.

The report also reveals concerning gaps, as 10 states had no hospitals on the list: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Healthcare experts suggest factors such as rural hospital shortages and “care deserts” may contribute to these gaps, as patients in underserved areas often face longer travel times and arrive with more advanced conditions.

Nearly one-third of this year’s recognized hospitals are newcomers to the list, reflecting ongoing shifts in hospital performance and safety practices nationwide. This turnover suggests both improvements at some facilities and potential declines at others previously recognized.

The Healthgrades report comes amid increasing national attention on patient safety and healthcare quality. As consumers become more informed about healthcare decisions, these ratings provide valuable benchmarks for evaluating hospital performance beyond reputation alone.

For patients, the findings underscore the importance of researching facility safety records when choosing where to receive care. The significant performance gaps between top-rated and average hospitals highlight how facility choice can directly impact patient outcomes and recovery.

The complete list of hospitals that received the Patient Safety Excellence Award is available on the Healthgrades website, offering a valuable resource for patients seeking the safest possible care across the country.