French Hospital Medical Center Achieves 27 Consecutive ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group
Straight A’s at the national level reflects unwavering commitment to patients
San Luis Obispo, CA, May 1, 2025 – French Hospital Medical Center was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade today for the 27th consecutive time by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization. This accolade recognizes French Hospital as one of only 11 hospitals in the country, one of only 2 in California, and the only one on the Central Coast to earn an “A” Grade continuously for all 27 grading cycles since the program’s inception in 2012.
"French Hospital's 27 consecutive 'A' grades from The Leapfrog Group along with our 5-star CMS rating are a significant achievement, one we don't take for granted," says Sue Andersen, President & CEO. "This reflects our commitment to patient safety and healthcare excellence, driven by the dedication and expertise of our team. We are incredibly proud."
The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. These largely preventable problems harm one in four hospital inpatients and cause as many as 250,000 deaths each year.
“Everyone who works and volunteers at French Hospital should be so proud. Sustaining an “A” over multiple years reflects a deep-rooted commitment to patient safety. French Hospital has made a clear and consistent effort to protect patients from harm. This is reflected in the outstanding and very remarkable distinction of earning an ‘A’ Safety Grade every cycle for the past 13 years” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I congratulate everyone at French Hospital for their national example and never-ending quest to put patients safety first. ”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can harm and even kill. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. French Hospital earned an “A” every time the grades were updated since the creation of the Hospital Safety Grade in 2012.
Dignity Health Hospitals throughout California received the most “A” grades from the Leapfrog Group during this Spring 2025 Grading Cycle. To see French Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
About French Hospital Medical Center
French Hospital Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, 98-bed acute care hospital located in San Luis Obispo, California. French’s Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine is the area’s most advanced emergency services center. The modern facility is home to the Copeland, Forbes, and Rossi Cardiac Care Center, San Luis Obispo County’s premier cardiac center, providing the latest cardiac and imaging technology, and the Hearst Cancer Resource Center offering free education, resources and support to cancer patients and their families.
Learn more at dignityhealth.org/frenchhospital.
About Dignity Health Central Coast
Seven award-winning hospitals comprise Dignity Health Central Coast: Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo, all recognized for their quality of care, safety, and service.
Additionally, Dignity Health Central Coast has a network of nearly 50 physician offices known as Pacific Central Coast Health Centers that include primary care, cancer care and various specialty offices. Dignity Health Central Coast also includes premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services.
Learn more at dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.