Patient Safety: Memorial Hospitals Get Top National Marks

CHATTANOOGA, TN – CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospitals – Chattanooga and Hixson received “A” hospital safety grades by The Leapfrog Group. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit organization that focuses on patient safety. Memorial Hospital is the only local health system to receive “A” ratings this reporting period. This places Memorial Hospital among the top 39 percent of hospitals nationwide and one of only 26 in Tennessee.

“This recognition shows the dedication and teamwork in our culture,” said Janelle Reilly, market president, CommonSpirit, Tennessee and Georgia. “Our employees are committed to maintaining high safety standards and providing compassionate, quality care. We are proud of our team and their focus on our patients' well-being.”

This marks the 12th consecutive “A” rating for the Chattanooga hospital and the ninth consecutive “A” rating for the Hixson hospital. Both hospitals are designated as “straight A” hospitals. This means hospitals have an A for spring 2026 and have sustained that grade for the last five or more grading rounds. This group represents 16 percent of all eligible hospitals this rating cycle.

The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country. They use evidence-based measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections. They also consider the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections. These can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice a year, in the fall and spring.

To see CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital’s full grade details and to find patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.

About CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital

CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital – Is a not-for-profit, faith-based health care organization. It is dedicated to the healing ministry of the church. Founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, it offers a continuum of care. This includes preventive, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer, cardiac, neuroscience and stroke care, and orthopedic and rehabilitation services. Memorial Hospital is a regional referral center of choice with 4,700 employees and almost 500 affiliated physicians. They provide health care throughout southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia. To learn more, visit memorial.org.

About The Leapfrog Group

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization. It was founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers. It drives a movement for patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety. This helps consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.