According to the recent news article, the California medical center mentioned above faced the threat of losing Medicare accreditation, but this was lifted within days after inspectors validated the hospital’s corrective action plan through staff interviews and record reviews. Although the medical center no longer faces this threat, the medical center received a “C” from Leapfrog Group in its most recent Hospital Safety Grades ranking. Leapfrog Group is a Washington, D.C., organization that grades hospitals on patient safety. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are assigned to nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals across the nation twice annually. The ratings focus on accidents, injuries, and infections. In addition, the ratings help assess how well a particular facility prevents medical errors and harm to patients. Although you should never refuse care in an emergency situation because of a hospital’s Safety Grade, having such knowledge about the grades of local hospitals can be particularly helpful when planning various medical visits or procedures.