by HARTFORD, Conn. — A newly released Hospital Safety Grade report from the nonprofit watchdog The Leapfrog Group places Connecticut among the top-performing states for patient safety — yet the findings also reveal concerning gaps that experts say demand immediate action.
Connecticut Among the Top States for A-Rated Hospitals
According to the national report, Connecticut ranks fourth in the country for the number of hospitals earning an A grade for patient safety.
Facilities receiving top marks include Hartford Hospital, UConn John Dempsey Hospital, and more than a dozen others recognized for strong safety practices.
Quinnipiac University School of Medicine professor Angela Mattie emphasized how clearly the data highlights performance gaps:
“This is an easy metric to look at — it’s a report card. It’s an A, B or C. We see a wide variation,” Mattie said.
Several Major Hospitals Receive ‘C’ Grades
Despite the state’s strong overall ranking, the report notes that eight of the 28 rated hospitals received C grades, including:
- Yale New Haven Hospital (York Street)
- Yale New Haven Hospital (St. Raphael Campus)
- Bristol Health
- Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
- Manchester Memorial Hospital
- St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center
- Waterbury Hospital
Meanwhile, Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam scored a D, placing it near failing status.
Hospitals Respond to the Ratings
Day Kimball Hospital issued a statement acknowledging the results but stressed that the ratings reflect older data:
“Leapfrog scores are a snapshot in time… not reflective of the care that we are delivering today. Our efforts to enhance quality of care and patient safety are unwavering and our priority.”
Yale New Haven Health, which oversees two of the C-rated facilities, also pushed back:
“Leapfrog utilizes older CMS data… Our hospitals have achieved substantial improvements… not reflected in this recent release.”
The health system highlighted strong ratings from other sources such as U.S. News & World Report, noting Yale New Haven Hospital’s national rankings in multiple specialties.
Why These Grades Matter
Professor Mattie urged hospital boards — and patients — to take the ratings seriously:
“Anyone who sits on a hospital board should be asking their hospital, if they have a C or a D, what are they doing for improvement?”
She noted that the Leapfrog metrics evaluate preventable harms, such as medication errors, infections, and failures in safety culture.
“These metrics measure avoidable stuff,” Mattie stressed. “Patients should consider ratings as one of many tools when seeking care.”
Financial Turmoil Has Influenced Some Ratings
Two lower-performing hospitals — Waterbury Hospital and Manchester Memorial Hospital — were previously owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy in January.
With UConn Health now approved to acquire Waterbury Hospital, officials say improvements are expected.
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John Driscoll, chair of the UConn Health Board, said the acquisition aims:
“…to deliver better care… to bring it back to a level of care that it deserves — that the clinical team here has earned and the community needs.”
Patient Safety Must Remain the Priority
Whether the state’s increased involvement in hospital oversight will improve safety remains to be seen. But Mattie maintains that leadership priorities will ultimately determine outcomes:
“The key is to make sure your safety and quality metrics are as important to leadership and your board as your financial metrics.”
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