Meritus earns ‘A’ Health Safety Grade for seventh time

The medical center is in the top 5% of ‘A’ grade hospitals in the nation to reach seven such awards from The Leapfrog Group.

Meritus Medical was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the seventh consecutive grading round by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety.

This designates Meritus as a “Straight A” hospital, defined as hospitals that have an A for Spring 2026 and have sustained that grade for the last five or more grading rounds.

Meritus is in the top 5 percent of participating hospitals nationwide that have achieved seven straight top grades. Out of only 46 hospitals in the country to hit this milestone, Meritus is one of just two in the entire state of Maryland to earn seven in a row. The hospital earned its first “A” grade in the spring of 2023.

“Earning a seventh consecutive ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a powerful reflection of the culture of safety our team lives every day,” said Carrie Adams, chief operating officer of Meritus Medical Center. “This achievement represents the unwavering commitment of our physicians, nurses and staff to protect our patients, support one another and continuously improve how we deliver care. Being named a ‘Straight A’ hospital — and one of only two in Maryland with this streak — is an honor we share with our community, which entrusts us with their care and expects nothing less than excellence.”

The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. 

“Meritus Medical Center deserves recognition for its unwavering  focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for seven consecutive cycles,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections 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 Meritus’s full grade details and to find essential patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.