2 Anne Arundel County Hospitals Earn Highest Safety Grade In New Rating

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Two Anne Arundel County hospitals earned the highest safety grade possible in a new rating.

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center each collected an "A" grade in the fall 2022 safety scorecard.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit health care watchdog, released the ratings on Wednesday. The report evaluates safety on more than 30 measures like hospital-acquired infections, falls, hand hygiene and surgical complications.

Leapfrog has scored hospitals twice a year for a decade. The fall list examined nearly 3,000 facilities nationwide.

The Anne Arundel County hospitals said their high safety performance shows their quality of care.

Anne Arundel Medical Center, located in Annapolis, said it has gotten an "A" in every Leapfrog grading cycle since 2018.

“This national recognition is a real testament of the hard work and commitment from our caregivers and volunteers to protect patients from harm and ensure their safety,” hospital President Sherry Perkins said in a press release. “Our patients can ... rest assured they will consistently receive high-quality and compassionate care at our hospital.”

The Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie said the honor shows its persistence through the pandemic.

“This 'A' grade is proof that despite the challenges of COVID-19, our team never lost sight of the bigger picture,” hospital Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Neel Vibhakar said in another release. “Thanks to our team’s focus on communication and continued commitment to safety, we were able to provide a consistent, high-quality care experience to patients who needed our services.”

Kathy McCollum, president and CEO of Baltimore Washington Medical Center, also welcomed the honor.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our team members who provide the highest level of safety and care for our patients every day,” McCollum said. “We are proud to have achieved this national recognition, as this rating reflects our commitment to offering the best in class patient care and safety to all of the communities we serve.”

The Anne Arundel County honorees were two of eight Maryland hospitals to earn an "A" in the safety ratings. Seventeen facilities scored a "B," 15 notched a "C" and one took home a "D." No Maryland hospitals received an "F."

Read Patch's statewide story to see how Maryland's other hospitals performed. To view Leapfrog's latest scorecard and methodology, click here.

Related: MD's Safest Hospitals: New Ratings Released, 8 Facilities Earn 'A' Grade