Top Hospitals in Charlotte Revealed, Report Shows

North Carolina Rises to Top 5 in Nation's Safest Hospitals

North Carolina has climbed to the fifth-safest state for hospital care in the United States, according to a recent report by the national watchdog organization, the Leapfrog Group. The organization released its fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grades on November 12, evaluating hospitals across the country with letter grades ranging from A to F. North Carolina saw 93 hospitals receive safety scores, marking a significant improvement from previous years.

Utah continued to lead the rankings as the state with the highest percentage of hospitals receiving A grades for the fifth consecutive year. Following Utah were Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and then North Carolina, which now holds the fifth position.

This ranking reflects a positive trend for North Carolina’s healthcare system, particularly when looking at the performance of hospitals in the Charlotte area. Let’s take a closer look at how these hospitals performed, what the grades mean, and how patients can use this information to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

What Makes a Hospital Safe?

The Leapfrog Group evaluates U.S. general hospitals based on their ability to prevent medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections that could harm patients. The grades are determined using around 30 safety measures, along with five patient-experience factors that directly impact safety outcomes:

• Nurse communication
• Doctor communication
• Staff responsiveness
• Communication about medicines
• Discharge communication

Grades are assigned using publicly available data, including patient responses to a standardized survey after a hospital visit. This ensures transparency and provides a clear picture of hospital performance.

North Carolina's Recent Rankings

North Carolina has shown consistent improvement over the years, with the following rankings in recent years:

• No. 1 in spring 2022
• No. 7 in fall 2022
• No. 6 in spring 2023
• No. 3 in fall 2023
• No. 8 in spring 2024
• No. 4 in fall 2024
• No. 12 in spring 2025
• No. 5 in fall 2025

This steady climb highlights the progress made by North Carolina’s hospitals in improving patient safety.

“Straight A” Hospitals in North Carolina

For the second time, Leapfrog recognized hospitals that received A grades for five or more grading rounds, labeling them as "Straight A" hospitals. There are currently 18 such hospitals in North Carolina, including four in the Charlotte area:

• Atrium Health Union (Monroe)
• Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center (Huntersville)
• Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center (Charlotte)
• Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center (Charlotte)

These hospitals have demonstrated sustained excellence in patient safety over multiple years.

How Safe Are Charlotte-Area Hospitals?

In the fall 2025 report, several Charlotte-area hospitals received A grades, including:

• Atrium Health Cabarrus (Concord)
• Atrium Health Union (Monroe)
• Atrium Health Union West (Matthews)
• Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center (Huntersville)
• Novant Health Matthews Medical Center (Matthews)
• Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center (Charlotte)
• Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center (Charlotte)

Dr. David Priest, senior vice president and chief safety and quality officer at Novant Health, praised the commitment of hospital teams to delivering safe, high-quality care.

Some hospitals in the area received B grades, including:

• Atrium Health Pineville (Charlotte)
• Atrium Health Mercy (Charlotte)
• Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte)
• CaroMont Regional Medical Center (Gastonia)

Atrium Health University City was the only Charlotte-area hospital with a C grade.

How Are Hospital Safety Grades Calculated?

Leapfrog assigns hospital safety grades biannually—once in the spring and once in the fall. The program, launched in 2012, uses a comprehensive set of criteria to evaluate hospitals. Key factors include:

• Patient safety measures, such as handwashing, computerized prescription entry, and nurse staffing levels.
• Data sources, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Categories of evaluation, including infections, surgical complications, safety problems, error prevention practices, and staff qualifications.

Grades are assigned to nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide, provided there is enough public data available.

How to Use Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Scores

Leapfrog recommends using the Hospital Safety Grades to inform your choice of hospital or to learn more about local facilities. Here are some tips:

• Use the search tool on hospitalsafetygrade.org to find hospitals by name, city, state, or ZIP code.
• Look for hospitals with the highest grades, and consider location and other personal preferences if multiple options are available.
• If a hospital doesn’t have a good grade, consider alternative locations or consult your doctor for advice on staying safe during your stay.

Each hospital’s overall grade reflects its overall safety performance, but you can also check individual scores for specific areas of concern, such as handwashing, blood infections, and patient falls.

Tips for Staying Safe During a Hospital Visit

Even if a hospital has a high safety grade, it’s important to remain vigilant. Leapfrog offers the following recommendations:

• Bring someone with you during arrival and discharge. A companion can help ask questions, track your care, and advocate for you.
• Stay alert and speak up during your stay. Keep notes on your treatment and monitor hospital staff hygiene.
• Know your medications. Track what you’re taking and why, and don’t hesitate to ask your care team for clarification.

By staying informed and proactive, patients can help ensure a safer hospital experience.