CUMBERLAND, Md., Nov. 6, 2023 — This fall, 18 UPMC hospitals, including UPMC Western Maryland, received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade, the highest achievable safety mark, from The Leapfrog Group, a national organization that aims to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. 

 “The physicians, nurses and staff members throughout our system remain absolutely devoted to the highest quality care and the highest standards in patient safety,” said Tami Minnier, UPMC’s chief quality and operational excellence officer. “This recognition from The Leapfrog Group reflects that devotion, and every member of our teams should be proud of what they’re providing for our communities — for every patient, every day.”  

 The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization that assigns letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring. 

“Receiving the LeapFrog Patient Safety Grade of an “A” at UPMC Western Maryland has been our goal and a direct reflection of the high quality of care that our teams of caregivers provide,” said David Burwell, M.D., chief quality officer, UPMC in West Central Pa. and Maryland “Our journey of being amongst the highest rated hospitals in the United States in patient safety is an effort that encompasses actions and improvements amongst all of our staff,  from the environmental staff member all the way to our cardiac surgery team.  We are delighted in the distinguishment that the LeapFrog Patient Safety Grade “A” provides to our community that we are amongst the best when delivering the crucial portion of a hospital stay, which is patient safety.”   

 In addition to UPMC Western Maryland, the following UPMC hospitals earned the top grade for fall 2023: 

·       UPMC Altoona 

·       UPMC Bedford 

·       UPMC Hamot  

·       UPMC Jameson  

·       UPMC Passavant—McCandless 

·       UPMC Passavant—Cranberry 

·       UPMC Carlisle 

·       UPMC Community Osteopathic 

·       UPMC Hanover 

·       UPMC Harrisburg 

·       UPMC Memorial 

·       UPMC West Shore 

·       UPMC Presbyterian 

·       UPMC Shadyside 

·       UPMC Somerset 

·       UPMC St. Margaret 

·       UPMC Williamsport