French Hospital Medical Center Achieves 24 Consecutive ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group

Straight A’s at the national level reflects unwavering commitment to patients

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, November 6, 2023 – Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) is proud to announce that it has been awarded an ‘A’ Hospital Safety grade by the Leapfrog Group for the 24th consecutive time since its launch in 2012. The accolade recognizes French Hospital as one of only 18 hospitals nationwide to have achieved this Straight ‘A’ distinction. Of those 18, only 2 are in California and French Hospital is the only one on the Central Coast to receive 24 Straight A’s. 

“This is not something we take lightly at French Hospital. I am so proud of the entire team for achieving the top grade once again,” said Patrick Caster, President & CEO of French Hospital. “Hospital Safety is our highest priority and to be one of only 18  hospitals in the country to earn 24 A’s in a row and one of only 2 hospitals in California, is a true validation of the high quality care delivered by our  physicians, nurses, clinical support services, staff and volunteers.”

The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“My sincere congratulations to French Hospital’s team for upholding patient safety standards through thick and thin, never wavering in more than a decade,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This hospital team clearly puts patients first and the results are extraordinary.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually in the fall and spring. 

To see French Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook and via its newsletter.

To learn more about French Hospital Medical Center, please visit dignityhealth.org/frenchhospital.

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About French Hospital Medical Center

French Hospital Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 98-bed acute care hospital located in San Luis Obispo, California. French’s Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine is the area’s most advanced emergency services center. The modern facility is home to the Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center, is the county’s premier cardiac center, providing the latest cardiac and imaging

technology, and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families. French Hospitals’ Stollmeyer Family Birthing Center is known for its excellence in family based care. 

About The Leapfrog Group                                                                                  

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter