Columbia Hospitals Face Safety Grade Declines in New Rankings

Top Hospitals in South Carolina Receive Highest Safety Ratings

Two hospitals in the Columbia area have been awarded the highest safety rating possible by a medical watchdog group. These hospitals, along with several others in the Midlands region, maintained strong safety scores in the latest biannual ranking released by the Leapfrog Group.

The most recent safety grades were published in the fall of 2025, and they show that many hospitals in the Midlands retained their previous ratings from the spring. Among these, Prisma Health Baptist and Lexington Medical Center in Columbia continue to be recognized as some of the safest hospitals in South Carolina. Both institutions received an A grade, matching their performance from the spring rankings.

Another hospital in the Prisma Health network, Prisma Health Tuomey in Sumter, also earned the top safety rating of A. This reinforces the reputation of the Prisma Health system for maintaining high standards of patient care and safety.

Hospital Safety Scores in South Carolina

The Leapfrog Group has been publishing Hospital Safety Scores twice a year since 2012, aiming to bring transparency to the U.S. healthcare system. The ratings focus on key factors such as errors, accidents, injuries, and infections.

In the latest round of evaluations, several hospitals in the Midlands saw their grades remain consistent or improve. However, some facilities experienced a drop in their ratings. For example:

• Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge dropped from an A to a B.
• Prisma Health Richland fell from a B to a C.
• MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center also saw its grade decrease from a B to a C.

Other hospitals, like McCleod Health Clarendon and Prisma Health Tuomey, maintained their A grades. Meanwhile, Newberry County Memorial Hospital and MUSC Health Orangeburg remained at a C.

Overall, out of the 51 hospitals in South Carolina that were evaluated, 21 received an A. This is a slight decline from the 24 A grades given in the spring. There were 17 B grades and 12 C grades in the fall rankings.

No hospitals in South Carolina received an F in the fall grading, but Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill was assigned a D grade for the third consecutive time. Another hospital, MUSC Health Marion Medical Center, was not graded in this report.

National Rankings and Safety Concerns

Nationally, South Carolina’s ranking slipped from fifth to tenth place. Of the state's hospitals, 41.2% received an A grade, down from 47.1% in the spring. Utah remains the top-ranked state, with 60.7% of its hospitals receiving an A. Iowa, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming tied for the lowest rating, as none of their hospitals had an A.

The Leapfrog Group emphasizes the importance of hospital safety, noting that upwards of 200,000 people die each year due to preventable errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. In the latest evaluation, the group graded approximately 3,000 hospitals nationwide.

What Patients Should Know

Leapfrog advises patients to speak up immediately if they notice something unsafe during their hospital stay. While it is not recommended to refuse emergency care based on a hospital's safety grade, patients should consider the best facility for planned procedures.

Patients at hospitals rated below an A face a higher risk of complications. Leapfrog encourages individuals to discuss concerns with their doctors and advocate for improvements in hospital safety practices.

How to Address Errors in the Hospital

If a patient or family member observes an error, there are specific steps to take:

• Talk to someone immediately – Do not wait to report the issue.
• Be respectful and assertive – Clearly express concerns and expectations.
• Follow up – If no response is received during the hospital stay or after discharge, contact the hospital’s customer service or patient advocacy department.
• Use available reporting systems – Many hospitals have suggestion boxes or hotlines for reporting errors.

Understanding the Grading System

The Leapfrog Group uses 22 measures to evaluate hospital safety, divided into two categories: Process/Structural Measures and Outcome Measures.

Process Measures

These assess how often a hospital provides appropriate treatment for medical conditions. Examples include: - Computerized Physician Order Entry - Bar Code Medication Administration - ICU Physician Staffing - Hand Hygiene - Nurse Communication - Discharge Information

Structural Measures

These evaluate the environment in which care is delivered. Examples include: - Doctors ordering medications through a computerized system - Leadership Structures and Systems - Culture Measurement, Feedback & Intervention

Outcome Measures

These track what happens to patients during their care. Examples include: - Foreign Object Retained - Air Embolism - Falls and Trauma - CLABSI (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections) - SSI: Colon (Surgical Site Infections)

By understanding these measures, patients can make more informed decisions about where to receive care.