Only one hospital in Stanislaus County received an “A” grade for patient safety in the latest report from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit that assesses safety and quality at hospitals across the United States.
The most recent Hospital Safety Grade report, released on November 13, evaluates nearly 3,000 general hospitals nationwide and assigns grades ranging from A to F. Of the 286 California hospitals reviewed, only Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center earned an “A” grade for fall 2025 in Stanislaus County.
Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center, located at 4601 Dale Road in Modesto, has maintained its “A” rating since spring 2022. According to The Leapfrog Group’s website: “A small number of hospitals have consistently achieved ‘A’ grades — an impressive feat. We hope all hospitals will strive to offer this level of dependable care.”
The hospital was recognized for strong performance in preventing medical errors. It received high marks for practices such as safe medication administration and effective communication among doctors, nurses and staff. The Leapfrog Group also highlighted the facility’s success with error prevention measures like proper hand-washing protocols.
“Choosing your hospital is a matter of personal preference, but we know ‘A’ hospitals do a better job at preventing errors,” stated The Leapfrog Group on its website. “If your local hospital rates below an ‘A,’ talk with your doctor at that hospital and urge them to improve their safety.”
Other Stanislaus County facilities received lower scores: Memorial Medical Center in Modesto was graded B; Doctors Medical Center of Modesto and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock each received a D.
The Leapfrog Group determines its grades based on up to 30 national performance measures collected from sources including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Leapfrog Hospital Survey. These are grouped into five key categories by a panel of patient safety experts.
According to guidance on The Leapfrog Group’s website: “You should never refuse care in an emergency because of a hospital’s Safety Grade, but use this website as a guide for planned events and a research tool for potential emergencies.”
