National hospital watchdog awards top marks for patient safety
Munson Healthcare announced today that all eligible Munson hospitals have earned an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group in the organization’s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grade ratings. Hospitals are given letter grades A through F — the “A” grade puts Munson hospitals in the top quartile of all hospitals nationally.
Hospitals earning the top distinction in Northern Michigan include Cadillac Hospital, Grayling Hospital, Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord, and Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
“This honor demonstrates our Healthcare Team’s ongoing commitment to delivering safe, reliable care for the communities we serve and should provide added confidence for our patients in the quality of our care at Munson,” said Dr. Joe Santangelo, Chief Medical, Quality & Safety Officer. “It reflects the strong collaboration across our hospitals and our continued focus on quality, safety, and dedication to our patients throughout the region. We are so proud of the care provided at all Munson Healthcare facilities.”
Munson Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Standfest added the “A” grades reflect the unwavering commitment of Munson Healthcare nurses and care teams. “I am particularly proud that we can announce this achievement at the start of National Nurses Week — and an extra nod to our dedicated nurses and the contributions to this demonstrated clinical excellence.”
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization focused on health care quality and patient safety, issues its Hospital Safety Grades twice each year. The report card evaluates hospitals on a wide range of patient safety measures, including infection prevention, medication safety, staffing, and error reduction. The Spring 2026 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades were released today.
Earning an “A” rating places each Munson Healthcare hospital among the safest hospitals in the nation and reflects a systemwide commitment to high-quality, safe care for patients and communities across northern Michigan. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog group that examines hospital quality and safety, assigning an A, B, C, D, and F grade based on how safe the facility is for patients. The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grade was developed under the guidance of a national panel and is based on measures of safety, quality, and efficiency.
More information on The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grade can be found online at hospitalsafetygrade.org.