Northwell’s Phelps Hospital and Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) have each earned the top “A” grade from the nonprofit Leapfrog Group, which evaluates health systems throughout the United States based on safety, quality and transparency using a report card.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent watchdog focused on patient safety, assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to nearly 3,000 acute-care hospitals across the nation. Its 2026 Hospital Safety Grade ratings use process measures such as staffing, along with evidence-based measures focused exclusively on errors, accidents, injuries and infections. Just 28 percent of all hospitals across New York state earned an A grade this cycle, Leapfrog said.
“At Phelps Hospital, patient safety is the bedrock of everything we do, and receiving another ‘A’ grade from Leapfrog is a powerful affirmation of that commitment,” said Beata Mastalerz, DNP, RN, president of Phelps Hospital. “It reflects the consistent diligence and expertise of our entire team,
who prioritizes patient safety and quality in every interaction, every day.” Of the 15 Northwell facilities to receive an ‘A’ rating, six also earned a place on Leapfrog’s prestigious “Straight A” hospital list, including NWH. This designation recognizes medical facilities that have maintained an ‘A’ grade for five or more consecutive grading rounds. Just 15 percent of hospitals in this Spring 2026 round achieved Straight “A” status,
“Achieving a ‘Straight A’ from Leapfrog is more than just a grade; it’s a profound recognition of the enduring culture of safety we’ve built at Northern Westchester Hospital,” said Derek Anderson, president of NWH. “It speaks volumes about the unwavering dedication of every physician, nurse and team member who ensures our patients receive the highest standard of care, consistently and reliably.”
Northwell is the most awarded health system in the New York tri-state area five years in a row, according to U.S. News’ 2025-26 Best Hospitals rankings. Northwell has also been named an Age-Friendly Employer, one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare, Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work, a TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2025 and Springbuk’s Healthiest 100 Places to Work in America.
Leapfrog is the only peer-reviewed hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that can impact patients. It examines the clinical processes, structural measures and patient outcomes of hospitals across 32 categories. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
For more information about Leapfrog’s 2026 Hospital Safety Grade ratings, go to: https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/