Michigan hospitals are falling behind in patient safety, survey finds

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – A new survey released overnight Thursday shows that hospitals across Michigan are falling behind in patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group, which releases its hospital safety grades twice a year, assigns letter grades from A to F based on a range of safety measures.

This fall, Michigan recorded its lowest number of “A” grades since the organization began tracking data.

In Mid-Michigan, Henry Ford Jackson Hospital received an A grade, while the University of Michigan Health–Sparrow and McLaren Greater Lansing both earned C grades.

Statewide, Michigan ranked 35th nationally for patient safety, with only 25.5% of hospitals receiving an “A” this fall. Out of 80 hospitals graded, just 18 earned top marks.

Leapfrog’s evaluation considers factors such as nurse and physician communication, staff responsiveness, and how well care teams handle hospital-acquired illnesses and complications.

Representatives from Henry Ford Jackson Hospital said they are proud of their results, crediting their commitment to quality care.

“I think our staff, everyone, is focused on providing the highest quality that we can to our patients. And that’s every interaction. That’s from front door to discharge and even outside the hospital walls into the community, making sure that we get accurate follow-up for our folks,“ said Dr. Mark Smith, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital.

Both U of M Health–Sparrow and McLaren Greater Lansing acknowledged their grades and shared statements emphasizing their ongoing commitment to patient safety and quality improvement.

Statement from U of M Health Sparrow:

“At University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, the health and safety of our patients, visitors and team members is our top priority. We are unwavering in our commitment to delivering the highest standards of quality care and ensuring the safety of every patient who entrusts us with their health. We believe that patient safety and clinical excellence are the foundation of exceptional health care. It should also be noted that the Leapfrog data is several years old and does not represent our current state.

Our team—comprised of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and support staff—works collaboratively to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. We actively monitor and evaluate our practices, using evidence-based standards and data-driven approaches to identify opportunities for improvement and prevent harm.

We encourage open communication, where every staff member feels empowered to speak up about safety concerns without fear of reprisal. Through ongoing education, rigorous quality assurance programs, and adherence to best practices, we strive to ensure that every patient receives care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable.”

Statement from McLaren Health Care:

“McLaren Health Care’s Fall 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades — which include two hospitals sustaining ‘A’s as well as a letter-grade improvement for another — continue the momentum expressed in previous Leapfrog ratings. Though grades were largely maintained from the Spring, our medical leadership continues to take an active, frontline approach to hardwiring initiatives that enhance patient safety and care quality every day. Using the McLaren Patient Safety Dashboard, our systemwide and hospital-based clinical leaders can track key quality and safety measures in near real time, allowing us to see the steady, continuous progress being made across multiple areas — improvements that will be reflected in future grades.

Creating and ensuring a safe environment of care requires diligence, teamwork, and attention to detail. It is a top priority and a responsibility we do not take lightly, and it remains a focus of our organization and our team of dedicated health care professionals.

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