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The Leapfrog Group recently scored two Lexington hospitals with improved safety grades compared to the fall grading cycle. Here\u2019s what to know.<\/p>\n
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National nonprofit organization The Leapfrog Group conferred two Lexington hospitals with improved safety grades this spring compared to the fall<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leapfrog releases hospital safety grades<\/a> for nearly 3,000 facilities twice each year, although the organization graded about 450 fewer hospitals this spring due to fallout from a lawsuit out of South Florida.<\/p>\n UK Good Samaritan Hospital and the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital each received an \u201cA\u201d this spring, compared to Bs in the fall grading cycle. Out of seven local hospitals, four received As in the updated grades, with one facility earning a B and two receiving Cs.<\/p>\n Kentucky facilities saw overall improvement in this spring\u2019s grades<\/a>, with 28.8% of the commonwealth\u2019s hospitals receiving an A compared to 25% in the fall. The improvement brought the Bluegrass State from 26th to 22nd in the nation for states with the greatest percentage of \u201cA\u201d hospitals.<\/p>\n Leapfrog calculates its hospital safety grades on a combination of voluntary surveys and mandatory reporting from third-party sources, such as the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.<\/p>\n Across the U.S., the hospitals that were graded this spring generally saw improvements in 17 measures compared to recent years\u2019 performances, Leapfrog reported, including healthcare-associated infections<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are seeing is really promising,\u201d Katie Stewart, director of healthcare ratings at The Leapfrog Group, told the Herald-Leader in a recent interview.<\/p>\n MRSA infections have seen a 42% decline since the fall 2022 grades, according to Leapfrog, and C. diff infections are down 30%.<\/p>\n Medication errors also saw a significant improvement, Stewart said, and patient experience<\/a> measures improved slightly.<\/p>\n Although U.S. hospitals generally saw improvement in healthcare-associated infection rates, five Lexington hospitals still scored below average in preventing the infections, such as sepsis after surgery, MRSA and others.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what to know about recent controversies involving The Leapfrog Group, and how Lexington-area hospitals performed in the spring grades.<\/p>\n Details of the Leapfrog court ruling<\/p>\n In the March 6 court filing<\/a>, the South Florida plaintiff hospitals cited a recent change in Leapfrog\u2019s grading process that assigned the lowest score in areas relying on self-reporting when the hospital declines to report.<\/p>\n \u201cPut simply, the alternative scoring measures became punishing,\u201d the lawsuit read.<\/p>\n Leapfrog officials wrote in a March 8 press release the court ruling was a \u201cthreat to patient safety.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeapfrog is the most transparent ratings system anywhere in the country, with every element of its methodology made public and accessible to a lay audience, with nothing hidden from the public as proprietary or otherwise unavailable,\u201d Leapfrog\u2019s statement read. \u201cIf Leapfrog\u2019s gold-standard transparency is considered \u2018deceptive\u2019 in Florida, no ratings system is safe from court intervention.\u201d<\/p>\n The five Tenet Healthcare hospitals involved in the suit received 3 \u201cF\u201d grades and 2 \u201cD\u201d grades<\/a> in the spring 2025 cycle, according to Leapfrog.<\/p>\n The court ruling only affected Leapfrog grades for the five hospitals involved in the lawsuit, but the organization opted to universally apply the new rule of not grading hospitals that don\u2019t participate in the survey.<\/p>\n \u201cThe safety grade is a national program, so we do not apply programmatic changes just to individual hospitals,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n Leapfrog is pursuing an appeal against the federal court ruling and reviewing its methodology.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Previous Leapfrog controversies<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t the first lawsuit posed by a healthcare company against Leapfrog \u2013 Chicago-based Saint Anthony Hospital sued The Leapfrog Group in 2017<\/a> over a grade they called \u201cinaccurate.\u201d They filed the lawsuit the day before the grade was published (hospital officials receive them in advance of public release) and Leapfrog officials agreed not to publish it, though they said publishing the grade would not have constituted a false statement.<\/p>\n A Cook County Circuit Clerk Judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2018<\/a>, Becker\u2019s Hospital Review reported.<\/p>\n Additionally, Florida-based NCH Healthcare System sued Leapfrog in 2019<\/a> to try to prevent the organization from publishing their \u201cD\u201d grade, saying they didn\u2019t participate in the voluntary survey and received a low grade as a result. The hospital system ended up dropping the lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leapfrog\u2019s full grading methodology<\/a> is available online and is peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Patient Safety.<\/p>\n Baptist Health Lexington<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: A<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: A<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: B<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which Baptist Health Lexington<\/a> scored below average this spring:<\/p>\n Infection in the urinary tractSepsis infection after surgerySerious breathing problemStaff work together to prevent errorsEffective leadership to prevent errors<\/p>\n \u201cOur providers and staff play an integral part in our care of patients, and we are proud this recognition acknowledges their contributions,\u201d Chris Roty, president of Baptist Health Lexington, said in an emailed statement to the Herald-Leader.<\/p>\n UK Good Samaritan Hospital<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: A<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: B<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: B<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which UK Good Samaritan Hospital<\/a> scored below average this spring:<\/p>\n MRSA infectionInfection in the bloodInfection in the urinary tractSepsis infection after surgerySerious breathing problemAccidental cuts and tearsHarmful eventsFalls causing broken hipsUniversity of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: A<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: B<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: B<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital<\/a> scored below average this spring:<\/p>\n Sepsis infection after surgerySerious breathing problemAccidental cuts and tearsHarmful eventsFalls causing broken hips<\/p>\n \u201cThe quality of care and safety of our patients is our most important priority, and the latest Leapfrog \u2018A\u2019 grades for both UK Chandler Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital reflect the sustained, meaningful work our teams have put in to advance that commitment,\u201d Allison Perry, spokesperson for UK HealthCare, wrote in an emailed statement to the Herald-Leader. \u201cThe academic health system of UK HealthCare provides high-acuity care for Kentuckians with the most complex health needs, and we remain committed to continuously improving the safety and quality of care we deliver to the people of the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n Saint Joseph Hospital<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: C<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: C<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: C<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which Saint Joseph Hospital<\/a> scored below average this spring:<\/p>\n Infection in the bloodSepsis infection after surgeryDangerous object left in patient\u2019s bodySerious breathing problemAccidental cuts and tearsHarmful eventsCollapsed lungDangerous blood clotCommunication with nurses<\/p>\n Saint Joseph East<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: C<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: C<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: C<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which Saint Joseph East<\/a> scored below average this spring:<\/p>\n Patient falls and injuriesCommunication about medicinesCommunication about dischargeNursing and bedside care for patientsCommunication with doctorsCommunication with nursesResponsiveness of hospital staff<\/p>\n Data was unavailable for five categories, for reasons unrelated to any lack of reporting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Leapfrog Group\u2019s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Report, which utilizes about 22 national performance measures, serves as one important metric in the broader landscape of healthcare quality evaluation,\u201d Dr. Wayne Lipson, chief medical officer at Saint Joseph Health, wrote in an emailed statement to the Herald-Leader.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of our hospitals are focused on improvement, regardless of grade. We also recognize every community has unique strengths and challenges. For Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East, the score serves as a catalyst for heightened focus and accelerated improvement. Our dedicated teams at these hospitals are actively engaged in rigorous performance improvement initiatives, leveraging the detailed insights provided by Leapfrog, alongside our extensive internal quality and safety data.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen consistent improvement in our hospitals over the past six years, and we\u2019re confident those improvements will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n Centerpoint Health \u2013 Georgetown<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: B<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: B (as Georgetown Community Hospital)<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: B (as Georgetown Community Hospital)<\/p>\n Centerpoint Health – Georgetown<\/a>, formerly Georgetown Community Hospital, scored below average for one metric this spring, patient falls and injuries. Data was unavailable for five categories, for reasons unrelated to any lack of reporting.<\/p>\n Centerpoint Health \u2013 Winchester<\/p>\n Spring 2026 grade: A<\/p>\n Fall 2025 grade: A (as Clark Regional Medical Center)<\/p>\n Spring 2025 grade: A (as Clark Regional Medical Center)<\/p>\n Here are the areas in which Centerpoint Health – Winchester<\/a>, formerly Clark Regional Medical Center, performed below average this spring:<\/p>\n MRSA infectionSpecially trained doctors care for intensive care unit patients<\/p>\n Data was unavailable for two categories, for reasons unrelated to any lack of reporting.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough our name has changed to Centerpoint Health, our commitment to quality, patient safety and clinical excellence remains stronger than ever,\u201d Bruce Tassin, market president for Centerpoint Health, wrote in an emailed statement to the Herald-Leader. \u201cEarning a fourth consecutive \u2018A\u2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade at Centerpoint Health – Winchester (formerly Clark Regional Medical Center) and a \u2018B\u2019 grade at Centerpoint Health – Georgetown (formerly Georgetown Community Hospital) reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and team members across Central Kentucky. As we continue bringing our hospitals in Georgetown, Paris, Versailles and Winchester together under one unified health system, we are focused on sharing best practices, strengthening collaboration and ensuring every patient receives high-quality care close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n How are hospital grades calculated?<\/p>\n Safety grades are calculated using up to 22 national safety measures from the Leapfrog survey, U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other data sources.<\/p>\n Grades are composed 50% by process and structural measures and 50% by outcome measures. The scoring scales differ by the chosen measure.<\/p>\n Leapfrog emphasizes you should not refuse emergency care based on hospital ratings. The group intends the scores to be used when planning things like childbirth, surgery referrals or chronic illness treatment.<\/p>\n Some of the areas you should pay special attention to<\/a> when choosing a hospital include hand-washing, infection in the blood and patient falls, Leapfrog\u2019s website says.<\/p>\n You should also consider how far off your hospital was from the average for any given standard. When evaluating, you can see the highest and lowest scores given, which helps in weighing a value.<\/p>\n A hospital being ungraded does not denote a lack of safety. Ratings are often unavailable for smaller providers, children\u2019s hospitals, surgical centers and critical access hospitals. Leapfrog allows you to search for hospitals by name, location or state<\/a>.<\/p>\n What other tools are available to evaluate hospitals?<\/p>\n Leapfrog represents one of several options patients have to evaluate hospitals for planned care.<\/p>\n Additional resources include U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services<\/a>, U.S. News & World Report<\/a> and Healthgrades<\/a>.<\/p>\n Do you have a question about healthcare in Kentucky for the Herald-Leader? We\u2019d like to hear from you. Email ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form below.<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Lexington Herald Leader<\/p>\n Meredith Howard<\/a><\/p>\n Belleville News-Democrat<\/p>\n Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
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