Stanford Health Care and Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare earned the highest possible grade for patient safety from a leading watchdog group, an accomplishment that leaders of both hospitals said was especially noteworthy during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am incredibly proud of Stanford Health Care for this achievement,” said David Entwistle, president and CEO of the organization. “Our A grade for patient safety, amid a global pandemic no less, reflects the resilience of our staff and their unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care delivery. To me, this award is confirmation that we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.”

The A grades from The Leapfrog Group indicate the hospitals’ exemplary performance in keeping patients safe from medical errors and other preventable harm.

“Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare is an organization defined by the excellence of its people,” said Rick Shumway, president and CEO of SHC – ValleyCare. “This achievement is a direct result of their skill and dedication. It also confirms what we at SHC – ValleyCare already knew: that we have the tools and a top-notch team to keep delivering high-quality care during this pandemic and beyond.”

Leapfrog, a national nonprofit organization focused on hospital quality and safety, announced its latest round of hospital grades on Dec. 14. Leapfrog evaluates more than 2,600 acute-care hospitals twice each year, assigning grades of A, B, C, D and F based on factors such as qualifications of clinicians; their responsiveness to patients; use of electronic records; and prevention of bacterial infections, patient falls and surgical errors.

“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This A is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Stanford Health Care and Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate you putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”

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 forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital 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.

About Stanford Health Care

Stanford Health Care seeks to heal humanity through science and compassion, one patient at a time, through its commitment to care, education, and discovery. Stanford Health Care delivers clinical innovation across its inpatient services, specialty health centers, physician offices, virtual care offerings and health plan programs.

Stanford Health Care is part of Stanford Medicine, a leading academic health system that includes the Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Stanford Medicine is renowned for breakthroughs in treating cancer, heart disease, brain disorders, and surgical and medical conditions.