Five states rank highest in patient safety.

Recognition for Patient Safety in Hospitals

Recently, hundreds of hospitals across the United States received accolades for their commitment to patient safety. This month, Healthgrades, an organization that helps people find healthcare providers, revealed the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Awards. A total of 438 hospitals in 40 states made the cut, placing them in the top 10% nationwide for safety.

The selection was based on 13 patient safety indicators aimed at highlighting hospitals that excel at preventing avoidable complications during patient care. Interestingly, Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania led the pack with the most hospitals recognized. The report suggests that the number of high-performing hospitals could be influenced by a state’s sheer size.

According to a Healthgrades spokesperson, the concentration of award-winning hospitals may be simply due to the larger number of hospitals present in these states. This analysis reveals that populous areas, particularly major cities like Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and New York City, show improved performance in patient safety.

Patients at these award-winning hospitals had notably lower risks for various complications. Specifically, they were 52.4% less likely to experience falls and fractures, 57.5% less likely to suffer lung collapse from procedures, and had a 67.8% reduced chance of catheter-related bloodstream infections. Pressure ulcers were also much less common, occurring at a rate 71.9% lower than at other hospitals.

Healthgrades noted that these four complications alone account for roughly 78% of all patient safety events. If all hospitals had matched the performance of this year’s awardees, it’s estimated that over 100,000 such events could have been prevented between 2022 and 2024.

Dr. Alana Biggers, a Healthgrades Medical Advisor, commented on the data, highlighting how improvements in safety practices can prevent a significant number of complications. She indicated that hospitals that focus on evidence-based safety not only achieve better clinical outcomes but also cultivate a patient-centered culture.

The awards stemmed from an extensive analysis of Medicare inpatient data, looking at various outcomes like complications, mortality, and preventable issues. Hospitals needed to meet strict clinical standards and report zero cases of severe errors, such as leaving foreign objects post-operation, to qualify.

Among the awardees, 250 hospitals ranked in the top 5% nationally, including those associated with renowned healthcare systems like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. On a different note, it’s worth mentioning that 10 states, including Alabama, Alaska, and Vermont, had no hospitals receiving this recognition, which some experts attribute to factors like rural hospital shortages and health care deserts.

According to Healthgrades, nearly one-third of the hospitals awarded this year were new to the list, underscoring a dynamic landscape of hospital performance and safety practices across the nation.