Two hospitals in Stanislaus County have received “D” grades for patient safety, according to a recent national report from The Leapfrog Group. The nonprofit organization evaluates nearly 3,000 general hospitals across the United States and releases its Hospital Safety Grade reports twice a year.
“These largely preventable problems harm one in four hospital inpatients and cause as many as 250,000 deaths each year,” The Leapfrog Group stated regarding the types of errors it assesses.
The latest report, released on November 13, ranks health care facilities nationwide using grades from A to F. Of the 286 California hospitals included in the fall 2025 assessment, only one was given an “F” grade—Norwalk Community Hospital in Norwalk—due to poor performance in preventing drug-resistant staph infections and reducing urinary tract infection risks.
Thirteen California hospitals earned a “D” grade this fall. In Stanislaus County, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto at 1441 Florida Ave., Modesto, and Emanuel Medical Center at 825 Delbon Ave., Turlock, were among those with low marks. Both are part of Tenet Healthcare Corp. They were rated “worse than average” for communication among doctors, nurses, and staff.
In response to the ratings, both hospitals said: “We are unwavering in our commitment to improving patient safety and delivering the highest quality care; however, these false ratings undermine the vital trust between doctors, hospitals, and patients that is essential to achieving positive health outcomes.”
Despite their overall low scores, The Leapfrog Group found that both Doctors Medical Center of Modesto and Emanuel Medical Center performed “better than average” when it came to preventing issues such as leaving dangerous objects inside patients after surgery. However, Emanuel Medical Center was rated poorly for blood infections and safe medication administration. Doctors Medical Center received low marks for breathing complications following surgery.
The two hospitals also referenced legal action against The Leapfrog Group’s grading system: “We stand with our sister hospitals, which earlier this year filed a complaint in Florida challenging The Leapfrog Group’s dangerous and misleading rankings under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act,” according to their statement dated November 24.
Leapfrog assigns grades based on how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm and medical errors. Grades are determined using up to 30 national performance measures drawn from sources such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Leapfrog Hospital Survey. These measures are grouped into five categories developed by patient safety experts.
The organization advises: “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,” according to information provided on its website.
