Top 5 Safest Hospitals by State in New Report
Recognition of Hospitals for Patient Safety
Hospitals across the country are being acknowledged for their commitment to patient safety, with several states showing remarkable achievements. A recent report highlights the efforts of these medical institutions in ensuring the well-being of their patients.
Healthgrades, a platform that helps individuals find doctors, health care providers, and hospitals, has released its 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award. This award recognizes 438 hospitals located in 40 states that rank among the top 10% nationwide for patient safety. The analysis focuses on facilities that excel at preventing serious, avoidable complications during hospital stays, based on 13 patient safety indicators.
Leading States in Patient Safety
Among all states, five have the highest number of hospitals earning this distinction: Texas, Florida, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These states lead the nation in total award recipients, with counts ranging from 21 to as many as 62 hospitals. According to Healthgrades data, the concentration of high-performing hospitals in these states may be partly attributed to their size. A Healthgrades spokesperson noted that the prevalence of recipients in a particular state could be related to having a large number of hospitals.
Despite this, the findings indicate strong safety performance across several of the nation’s most populated regions, particularly major metro areas such as Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and New York City.
Lower Risks at Award-Winning Hospitals
Patients treated at these hospitals experienced significantly lower risks of some of the most common and serious safety events, according to a news release. Compared to other hospitals, patients at award-winning facilities were:
- 52.4% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in fracture
- 57.5% less likely to suffer a collapsed lung related to procedures
- 67.8% less likely to develop catheter-related bloodstream infections
- 71.9% less likely to develop pressure sores
These four indicators account for about 78% of all patient safety events. If all hospitals performed at the same level as this year’s recipients, more than 100,000 patient safety events could have been avoided between 2022 and 2024.
Expert Insights on Safety Practices
Dr. Alana Biggers, a medical advisor at Healthgrades, emphasized the importance of evidence-based safety practices. “Hospitals that prioritize these practices not only achieve better clinical outcomes, but also cultivate a culture where patients come first,” she said. “These insights give individuals and families the information they need to make confident and better informed healthcare decisions.”
The award is based on an analysis of Medicare inpatient data, evaluating outcomes such as complications, mortality, and preventable safety events. To qualify, hospitals must meet strict clinical thresholds and report zero cases of certain serious errors, such as leaving a foreign object behind during a procedure.
Top Performing Hospitals
Overall, 250 hospitals ranked in the top 5% nationwide for safety, including facilities affiliated with major systems such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and HCA Healthcare. However, 10 states had no hospitals on the list: Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.
Experts suggest that factors such as rural hospital shortages and “care deserts” may contribute to these gaps. Patients in underserved areas often face longer travel times and arrive with more advanced conditions.
New Recognized Hospitals
Nearly one-third of this year’s recognized hospitals were new to the list, according to Healthgrades, reflecting continued shifts in hospital performance and safety practices across the country. The full list of hospitals that received the Patient Safety Excellence Award can be found here.
Ongoing Efforts in Patient Safety
Fox News Digital has reached out to Healthgrades for additional comment. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the focus on patient safety remains a critical priority for hospitals nationwide.
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