Huntsville Hospital Receives F Grade in Leapfrog Safety Report Amid Data Dispute

Huntsville Hospital received an 'F' grade from the Leapfrog Group's latest Hospital Safety report, which evaluates patient safety and medical errors nationwide. The hospital strongly disputed the rating, stating that it did not complete the voluntary 353-page Leapfrog survey, resulting in an unfair assessment based on incomplete data. According to the Leapfrog report, Huntsville Hospital had a higher death rate among patients with serious post-surgical complications compared to other hospitals, though it scored highest in preventing retained surgical objects. Huntsville Hospital cited its accreditations and recognitions from US News, the Joint Commission, Healthgrades, and others to affirm its quality and safety standards, emphasizing that it cares for some of the sickest patients in the region. The hospital criticized the Leapfrog evaluation for not considering the complexity and severity of cases it manages, especially those involving patient transfers requiring high-level care. This controversy follows a trend of declining Leapfrog grades for Huntsville Hospital, which scored a 'C' in 2023 and a 'D' in 2024 before receiving the current failing grade.