Fremont Hospital Earns 'A' Grade In New Safety Ranking

FREMONT, CA — A Fremont hospital has jumped in the ratings, earning an 'A' grade for its ability to protect patients from often preventable harm, according to a new safety report released Wednesday by a national watchdog.

Washington Hospital Healthcare System received its first 'A' grade from The Leapfrog Group, after being given 'Bs' and 'Cs' since 2023.

The Leapfrog Group says its report is the only one in the country that offers ratings focused exclusively on patient safety. The report is based on over 30 performance measurements that look into errors, accidents, injuries and what systems are in place for hospitals to address them.

"An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that Washington Health 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."

Washington Hospital Healthcare System appears to have achieved the standard in several categories, including medication safety and health care equity.

The Leapfrog Group marked that the hospital has "limited achievement" in billing ethics and complex adult surgery subsections, having not met the watchdog's standard in those areas.

"We are proud to be recognized among a select group of hospitals earning the Leapfrog 'A' grade distinction, which reflects some of the highest standards for patient safety in the country," Kimberly Hartz, chief executive officer of Washington Health, said. "This recognition reflects the culture our teams have built every day – one grounded in accountability, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing what’s right for every patient."

Kaiser Foundation Hospital, meanwhile, retained a 'B' grade. It last earned an 'A' grade in spring 2023.

California ranks 10th among all states for the percentage of hospitals receiving "A" grades in the spring 2026 report card.

Leapfrog said its biannual report shows improvement in 17 measures, including health care-associated infections, medication safety systems and patient experience.

"The good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives," Leah Binder, the group's president and CEO, said in a news release.

After peaking in fall 2022, several health care-associated infections declined sharply, according to the report. Central line-associated bloodstream infections fell by half; catheter-associated urinary tract infections dropped 45 percent; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections declined 42 percent; and serious intestinal infections linked to antibiotic use went down 30 percent.

The report also found gains in medication safety. Use of computerized physician order entry systems, which can flag prescribing errors, rose from 66 percent of hospitals meeting Leapfrog standards in 2018 to 90 percent in 2025. Adoption of barcode medication administration systems increased from 47 percent to 93 percent over the same period.

Patient experience scores, measured through Medicare and other federal surveys, have improved since hitting a low in fall 2023, rising by about one point on average across five safety-related measures, including communication with nurses and doctors and responsiveness of hospital staff.

Among states, Connecticut, Virginia and South Carolina had the highest share of A-rated hospitals, followed by Utah, Montana, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and California. Montana and Maryland entered the top 10 for the first time, while Florida rose from 15th place in fall 2025 to seventh. No hospitals in North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont or Wyoming received an A grade.

About 450 hospitals were not assigned grades after a federal court ruling in South Florida involving several facilities that did not participate in Leapfrog's 2024 or 2025 survey. The group said it applied the change nationwide and is appealing the decision while reviewing its methodology.

Local Editor Kristina Houck contributed to this report.