VCU Health hospitals get ‘A’s’ for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group
A-rated hospitals make patient safety a priority. Here’s how VCU Health ensures patients are protected during their most vulnerable moments.
May 06, 2026
The “A” ratings reflect a dedicated, multi-year effort across VCU Health to increase patient safety protocols. (Getty Images)
By Sara McCloskey-Nieves
Are my doctors and nurses sure this is safe?
It’s a question many people think about while sitting in a hospital bed or visiting a loved one who is admitted.
For VCU Health’s three hospitals, the answer to that question is “yes.” And we have the grades to prove it.
For the second time in a row, all three VCU Health locations – VCU Medical Center, VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital – received “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety.
“A second consecutive season of ‘A’ grades in patient safety for all our hospitals exemplifies not only our unwavering commitment to high-quality care and positive health outcomes at VCU Health,” said Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, senior vice president for VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health, “they also help us foster trusting relationships with the communities we serve, because no matter the location or reason for seeking care, you know you’re in good hands at VCU Health. I am so grateful to our teams for this wonderful accomplishment.”
Earning top marks for safety demonstrates that patient safety is woven into every part of care at VCU Health, reflecting our team members’ unwavering commitment to follow best practices and speak up when they notice a potential problem.
“Maintaining the highest standards of safety for all is a shared responsibility,” said Sheldon Barr, president of VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital. “VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital’s latest ‘A’ rating from Leapfrog reflects a culture where team members are encouraged to speak up, safety coaches reinforce best practices, and feedback from our staff, patients and community directly informs how we strengthen our safety plan. By listening and continuously improving, we remain focused on providing the best care possible.”
Why Leapfrog safety grades matter for patients and their families
Thousands of people die from preventable mistakes made in hospitals each year, which is why Leapfrog developed a simple letter grade rating to show how safe hospitals are for patients. The nonprofit evaluates data about infections, medication errors, complications and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States.
The “A” ratings reflect a dedicated, multi-year effort across VCU Health to increase safety protocols for all patients.
“Team members at every level and in each department of VCU Medical Center prioritize patient safety,” said Jim Willis, president of VCU Medical Center. “Our latest ratings are an incredible achievement that comes with consistent dedication, training and improvements to provide the best, safest care for every patient that comes to our doors. We’re very proud to receive an ‘A’ grade yet again.”
VCU Health employees make patient safety a priority
For families, we know how stressful it can be to research specialists and find the best place to get medical care. If you go to any of our VCU Health locations, from downtown Richmond to the rural communities of South Hill and Tappahannock, you will meet dedicated health care workers who prioritize patients and their safety with every decision they make.
“Our team’s culture of safety and service excellence is reflected in VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital earning a sixth consecutive ‘A’ designation from Leapfrog, an achievement earned by only 12% of all eligible hospitals,” said Josh Hammond, president of VCU Tappahannock Hospital. “I am deeply proud of our team’s dedication to providing local, high-quality care.”
From hand hygiene to double checking medications, it takes a team to develop a strong culture of safety. The Leapfrog Group’s “A” Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2026 ratings validate the significant investment our team members are making in ongoing education, safety reviews and attention to detail to protect our patients during their most vulnerable moments.
The Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grades are peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
Explore the full grade details for VCU Health from The Leapfrog group.
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