CHICAGO – November 13, 2025 – The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog nonprofit, driven in Illinois by the Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH), announced the fall 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. In Illinois, 108 hospitals were graded and 35 earned an A, 21 a B, 34 a C, 14 a D, and four an F.
MBGH, a nonprofit organization representing employer purchasers of health care, and The Leapfrog Group’s Illinois Regional Leader, annually encourages hospitals statewide to participate in Leapfrog’s online patient safety survey. The Safety Grade is assigned to all general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
In addition to issuing grades to about 3,000 individual general hospitals, The Leapfrog Group ranks states based on percentage of A hospitals, and Illinois moved up to 17th nationally after being ranked 20th in the previous grading period. Three hospitals in Illinois are among 11 hospitals across the nation to have consistently earned straight As since 2012:
- Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital
- Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
- University of Chicago Medical Center
“Preventable medical errors remain a significant challenge in hospitals across the nation, and far too many people are harmed or killed every year as a result,” said Cheryl Larson, MBGH president and CEO. “We encourage employers to use these Safety Grades and we’re also educating them on Leapfrog’s free Lives and Dollars Lost Employer Risk Calculator. With this tool, employers can estimate the percentage of employees treated at hospitals with varying safety grades, avoidable deaths, hidden surcharges, and total expenditures tied to medical mistakes.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventing medical errors and patient harm. It is updated twice a year in the fall and spring, offering the public a reliable, independent assessment of hospital safety. The Grades are determined by a public, peer-reviewed methodology, calculated by top patient safety experts. The grading system is fully transparent and always freely available to the public at www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
A new Leapfrog analysis finds 94% of hospitals earning an A in the fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grade are affiliated with a health system—defined as a network of health care facilities owned or managed under one parent organization—while nationally, 68% of all US hospitals are system-affiliated, according to the American Hospital Association.
“We recognize and celebrate the hospitals in Illinois that achieved an A Hospital Safety Grade,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This honor reflects the ongoing commitment of their teams to protecting patients every minute of every day. As we mark our 25th anniversary, we’re taking a closer look at how health system leadership may be driving faster safety improvements, including in Illinois.”
About The Leapfrog Group
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only ratings program focused exclusively on accidents, errors, injuries and infections that harm or kill patients in hospitals. It is updated twice a year in the fall and spring, offering the public a reliable, independent assessment of hospital safety. The Grades are determined by public, peer-reviewed methodology, calculated by top patient safety experts under the guidance of a National Expert Panel. The grading system is fully transparent and always freely available to the public at www.hospitalsafetygrade.org. The Safety Grade is published by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization celebrating 25 years of driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety.
About the Midwest Business Group on Health
Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting employers seeking solutions to better manage the high cost of health care and the health and productivity of their covered populations. Founded in 1980, MBGH offers members leading educational programs, employer-directed research projects, purchasing opportunities, and community-based activities that increase the value of health care services and the health benefits they offer to members. MBGH serves over 170 companies that provide benefits to over 4 million lives, with employer members spending more than $15 billion on health care each year. For additional details visit MBGH.org and follow us on LinkedIn.