WEST JEFFERSON MEDICAL CENTER EARNS AN “A” HOSPITAL SAFETY GRADE FROM THE LEAPFROG GROUP

Spring 2026 Safety Grade is a national recognition for commitment to patient safety   

West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC) is proud to announce they have maintained an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns a letter grade to general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of patient safety focused exclusively on errors, accidents, injuries and infections. This marks the fourth “A” in a row for WJMC, showcasing their strong commitment to patient safety and quality of care.  

“Achieving the highest grade from Leapfrog four times in a row truly underscores our mission to provide the highest quality of care to all our patients,” said Garett May, President and CEO of WJMC. “I want to first congratulate our entire team at West Jeff for upholding these high standards as well as express my gratitude for our community for trusting us to care for them and their loved ones.” 

“The multidisciplinary team at West Jefferson Medical Center has worked diligently to ensure patient safety and maintain an exceptional quality of care,” said Darlene Gondrella, Vice President of Quality for WJMC. “Not only are we honored to have been granted several high grades from Leapfrog, but our surgical team was recently recognized by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of RSI. These designations affirm the culture of safety, innovation and accountability that defines West Jeff.” 

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.  

“An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that West Jefferson 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.”