Keck Medicine Hospitals Achieve Top Safety Grades from Leapfrog

Keck Hospital of USC and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) have both received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2025 from The Leapfrog Group. This independent national nonprofit focuses on evaluating patient safety across hospitals in the United States. The recognition marks a significant achievement for Keck Medicine of USC, as it is the first instance the health system has secured two “A” grades simultaneously.

Rod Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine, expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating, “This grade puts our hospitals among the safest in the country.” Keck Hospital, a 343-bed acute care facility, provides specialized medical services, while USC-VHH, a community hospital with 140 beds, primarily serves patients from Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, and nearby areas.

This recognition is particularly notable for Keck Hospital, which has now achieved an “A” grade eleven times since 2019. Stephanie Hall, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Keck Medical Center of USC, emphasized the ongoing commitment to safety, saying, “Every year, the Leapfrog grading criteria become more rigorous, and it is a tremendous honor for Keck Hospital to once again receive the highest safety grade possible.”

The recent accolade for USC-VHH marks its second “A” grade in recent years. Armand Dorian, MD, MMM, CEO of USC-VHH, remarked, “We are proud that our hard work maximizing safety standards has resulted in another grade ‘A.’ This grade recognizes the commitment shared by every care provider at the hospital to put patient safety first.”

The Leapfrog Group employs a rigorous grading system, assigning grades from “A” to “F” based on various measures related to hospitals’ performance in preventing harm to patients. This grading process is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and accessible to the public. The grades are updated biannually, in the spring and fall.

For more detailed information on the safety grades of Keck Hospital and USC-VHH, as well as safety tips for patients, the public is encouraged to visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

Keck Medicine has garnered several national quality honors recently. Notably, Keck Hospital was named a top performer by Vizient, Inc. for 2025, positioning it among the top twelve hospitals in the nation for excellence in high-quality care. Marty Sargeant, MBA, CEO of Keck Medical Center, highlighted the importance of the Leapfrog grade, stating, “Keck Hospital’s Leapfrog grade ‘A’ award is once again a reflection of our commitment to pursuing the highest possible standards of care.”

As Keck Medicine continues to prioritize patient safety and quality care, these achievements underscore the dedication of its staff and the health system’s position within the broader healthcare landscape. For additional information about Keck Medicine of USC, please visit news.KeckMedicine.org.