Two Local Hospitals Earn An “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Northern Nevada Medical Center (NNMC) and Sierra Medical Center (SMC), An Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center, each earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns a grade to hospitals across the country based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, and the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

“Northern Nevada Medical Center has elevated access to care in our community for more than 40 years and to continue to be recognized by The Leapfrog Group is a testament to our unwavering dedication to patient safety,” said Helen Lidholm, Chief Executive Officer at Northern Nevada Medical Center.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assesses hospitals strictly on patient safety using 27 measures of patient safety data publicly reported related to patient safety, including infection prevention, the effectiveness of treatments, staffing, and the ability to reduce medical errors.

“This is the first year Sierra Medical Center was eligible to receive a safety grade and we are beyond thrilled to have earned an ‘A’ grade,” said Jordan Herget, Chief Executive Officer at Sierra Medical Center. “Northern Nevada Health System has a longstanding reputation in the community for providing safe care and Sierra Medical Center has worked diligently since opening in April 2022 to create a legacy of caring for patients with safety, quality and efficiency in mind.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Lead Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to both Northern Nevada Medical Center and Sierra Medical Center, their leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.”