In the latest Spring 2026 Hospital Safety report, four hospitals in California received concerning “D” grades, placing them among the lowest performers in the state for avoiding medical mishaps, injuries, accidents, and infections.
The hospitals earning these troubling marks were El Centro Regional Medical Center, Los Angeles Community Hospital, Norwalk Community Hospital, and Pioneers Memorial Hospital, as highlighted in the semiannual rankings by the Leapfrog Group.
Norwalk Community Hospital did see some progress, having improved from an “F” grade last year. At that time, hospital representatives contended the low score did not accurately represent their safety protocols, citing incomplete data as a contributing factor to the unfavorable rating.
The report offers a comprehensive view of hospital safety in California, with 113 facilities achieving “A” grades. This includes 48 hospitals that maintained a streak of high patient safety standards, earning them the “straight A” designation.
Overall, California secured the 10th spot nationwide for the proportion of hospitals receiving top “A” grades.
On the other hand, 67 hospitals across the state were assigned “C” grades, reflecting average performance, while numerous others received “B” scores.
Leapfrogâs twice-yearly report evaluates general hospitals on their ability to protect patients from preventable harm, including dangerous infections, medication mistakes, and avoidable injuries.
Among Californiaâs top-performing hospitals were major systems, including multiple Kaiser Permanente facilities, Stanford Health Care, Hoag Hospital, and Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Leapfrog said hospitals have shown measurable improvements in patient safety, particularly through reduced infection rates and increased use of computerized medication-ordering systems designed to catch prescribing errors.
âThe good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives,â Leapfrog Group President and CEO Leah Binder said in a statement.
For California patients, however, the report highlights stark disparities depending on where they seek care, with four hospitals now facing heightened scrutiny over patient safety concerns while more than 100 others received top marks.
