Watauga Medical Center Earns "A" Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group

Watauga Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of patient safety focused exclusively on errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

“This recognition from The Leapfrog Group reflects a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across our organization. We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to patient safety,” said Nathan Nipper, President and CEO of UNC Health Appalachian.

“An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that Watauga Medical Center 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 stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

To explore full grade details and to find valuable tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.