WA falls to No. 40 in national hospital safety ranking as major Seattle hospitals earn ‘C’ grades
May 21, 2026, 1:25 PM
Medical personnel prepare to treat a multiple gunshot victim in the emergency room of Harborview Medical Center. (Photo: John Moore, Getty Images)
(Photo: John Moore, Getty Images)
Washington landed at No. 40 out of 50 states in a new study grading hospital safety across the U.S., with 20 hospitals receiving a “C” grade.
The safety ranking for Washington’s hospitals dropped nine spots since the fall 2025 ranking, with only 18.8% of state hospitals receiving an “A” grade, according to The Leapfrog Group.
“The biannual Safety Grade is assigned to most general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections,” Leapfrog stated. “It is the only ratings program focused exclusively on how safe hospitals are for patients.”
There are only nine “A” graded hospitals remaining in the state, including:
- EvergreenHealth Kirkland, Kirkland
- PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, Bellingham
- St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor
- St. Joseph Medical Center of Tacoma, Tacoma
- St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale
- Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma
- St. Anne Hospital, Burien
- St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood
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Major Seattle and Bellevue hospitals land in the ‘C’ tier
Some major hospitals stand out among the “C” grades, including Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, and University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest Campus, and Bellevue’s Overlake Hospital Medical Center.
As for Washington’s neighboring states, Oregon and Idaho, they landed at No. 30 and No. 36, respectively. Oregon shared No. 30 with both Kansas and Wisconsin for its percentage of “A” grade hospitals, but the Beaver State dropped seven spots since fall 2025.
Idaho’s ranking tells a different story; the Gem State plummeted in hospital safety compared to fall 2025, dropping 15 spots in the ranking, and now has only 21.4% of its hospitals earning an “A” grade.
“The good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives,” Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, stated. “But not all hospitals are the same. That’s why it’s so important for people to consult Safety Grades and do their research when choosing a hospital.”
In fall 2022, Leapfrog reported that several healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) were at their highest peak since 2016. Since that report, the average HAI scores have substantially declined in four separate metrics: central line-associated bloodstream infections decreased by 50%, catheter-associated urinary tract infections decreased by 45%, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus decreased by 42%, and Clostridium difficile decreased by 30%.
The full list of Washington’s hospital safety rankings can be found here, with grades ranging from “A” to “grade not assigned.”
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