Hospitals in Maryland rank among the worst in the nation for avoiding medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections, according to a new report by the Leapfrog Group. The state’s hospitals placed 48th out of 49, with three states, including Washington, D.C., tying for 49th place.

Biannually, Leapfrog, a nonprofit organization committed to safety and transparency in the U.S. health system, produces its Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades report based on data on 2,600 hospitals across the nation. Each hospital is assigned a letter grade based on a range of patient safety measures.

Maryland was among the five states with the lowest percentage of A hospitals. Only one of the state’s 44 hospitals earned an A, while seven received a B, the majority earned a C, eight earned a D and one received an F.

Medical errors, accidents and infections can cause serious harm to innocent patients. Those who have suffered an error should immediately contact a trusted Silver Spring medical malpractice attorney to learn more about their legal options. You may be entitled to compensation.

Identifying Hospital Errors

Leapfrog notes that hospital errors and infections are among the leading causes of death in the U.S. and that its report helps patients identify which hospitals are best at preventing them.

The report analyzed 27 measures in several categories currently used by national measurement and reporting programs, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey and Health Information Technology Supplement.

Some measurements include:

  • Infection rates
  • Objects being left inside patients
  • If there are proper systems in place to prevent and address errors and accidents

The data is collected and analyzed by an expert panel made up of patient safety experts from across the country. Through an analysis of the data collected, the panel assigns each hospital with a letter grade. Each state is then ranked based on the number of A hospitals they have.

Leapfrog Group Hospital Ratings for Maryland

Howard County General Hospital was the only Maryland hospital to receive an A.

The following hospitals received a B:

  • MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
  • Mercy Medical Center
  • Northwest Hospital
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center

The following hospitals received a C:

  • Anne Arundel Medical Center
  • Greater Baltimore Medical Center
  • Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center
  • MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
  • MedStar Harbor Hospital
  • Sinai Hospital of Baltimore
  • UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center
  • University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital
  • University of Maryland Medical Center
  • University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center

The following hospitals received a D:

  • St. Agnes Hospital
  • University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus

The following hospital received an F:

  • Bon Secours Baltimore Health System

Get Help from a Medical Malpractice Attorney

When medical professionals and hospitals fail to ensure the safety of their patients, they can be held accountable for the damages their patients received.

If you or someone you love has suffered from a medical error, accident, injury or infection, you may have legal options for pursuing compensation for the injuries, medical bills and other damages you have experienced.

Contact our medical malpractice lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation to learn more. Because we work on a contingency fee, we do not charge for our services unless we recover compensation for you.