New grades from an independent watchdog group show how Massachusetts hospitals compare in various measures of patient safety.
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Josh Reynolds for The Washington Post
A total of 17 Massachusetts hospitals received high marks in a recent assessment of hospital safety by the health care watchdog group Leapfrog.
Leapfrog, an independent nonprofit, has been grading hospitals based on their patient safety twice a year since 2012. The fall 2025 grades were recently published, giving patients fresh insights into where they should be seeking care.
Along with the 17 Massachusetts hospitals that received an “A” grade, 16 received a “B” grade, 16 received a “C” grade, and four received a “D” grade.
Hospitals that have earned an “A” grade for five consecutive grading rounds are recognized as “Straight A” hospitals, to reflect a consistent excellence in patient safety. Six Massachusetts hospitals have this recognition: Brigham And Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Saint Anne’s Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional Medical Center, and Winchester Hospital.
On the other end of the spectrum, the following hospitals received “D” rankings: Baystate Medical Center, Heywood Hospital, MetroWest Medical Center, and St. Vincent Hospital. No Massachusetts hospitals received “F” grades.
Nationwide, Massachusetts ranks 19th in overall patient safety. Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine all rank higher. Vermont was ranked 48th, tied at the bottom of the rankings with Iowa, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
Leapfrog uses a peer-reviewed methodology to assess hospitals and give them rankings. A panel of experts selects 32 “evidence-based measures of patient safety” that include things like the responsiveness of hospital staff, handwashing, various surgery problems, and more. Data is collected about these topics through both primary sources like hospital surveys and secondary sources.
Check out the full list of Massachusetts hospitals and their grades.
Ross CristantielloStaff Writer
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
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