Michigan Hospital Safety Grades Fall 2024: Why Do They Matter? 

As the top medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan, we understand lawsuits aren’t limited to doctors and nurses. When malpractice in hospitals occurs, the hospital itself can also be sued if they are partly at fault for negligence. Hospital negligence, or hospital malpractice, is a form of medical malpractice. How can patients protect themselves from hospital negligence?  The Leapfrog Group places letter grades on many major hospitals throughout the United States, including in Michigan. These rankings are released bi-annually, in the spring and the fall. The Fall 2024 grades have been released, and we thought it helpful to share a few Michigan hospital grades and discuss why these could be important for patients.  

As lawyers for hospital negligence, we know that all hospitals in Michigan are capable of providing excellent care or committing malpractice. However, continued trends demonstrating an indifference to patient safety are clearly concerning. 

How Are Grades Calculated

Every year, The Leapfrog Group surveys data from approximately 2,100 hospitals, which represents about 74% of U.S. hospital beds. The calculations of these letter grades come from a survey with 30 national performance measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. The Leapfrog Group puts each measure into one of two categories: Process/Structural Measures or Outcome Measures, each accounting for 50% of the total score. 

Process Measures track how often hospitals provide recommended treatments for specific medical conditions. For example, “Patient education on aftercare” checks how a hospital provides patients with information on how to care for themselves after leaving, like explaining medications or follow-up appointments. Structural Measures focus on a hospital’s setup and systems, like the “Safe Surgery Checklist” that evaluates if a hospital uses a standardized checklist before performing surgeries.  

Finally, Outcome Measures reflect the results of care provided to a patient. For instance, “Infections after surgery” tracks how often patients develop infections following a surgical procedure. This can indicate how well a hospital prevents and treats complications during recovery. The Leapfrog Group considers all these factors, breaking them into categories such as Infections, Problems with Surgery, Safety Problems, Practices to Prevent Errors, and Doctors, Nurses, and Hospital Staff when assigning a hospital a letter grade. 

Michigan Hospital Grades

Michigan hospitals have a large disparity when it comes to the Fall 2024 hospital grades. Currently, Michigan is 29th in the country, with only 27.2% of hospitals in Michigan ranking in the A grade category; this represents 22 hospitals. This is concerning because, in the spring of 2024, Michigan had 30.9% of hospitals ranked A, and the state was in the 20th spot overall. Among all of the Michigan hospitals ranked, there are 29 with grade B, 26 with grade C, and 4 with either a D or F grade. According to The Leapfrog Group’s analysis, D and F hospitals carry nearly twice the risk of mortality compared to A hospitals. We will share a few from each grade ranking below. To view the full list of hospitals in Michigan and their safety grade, check out The Leapfrog Group’s page here. 

Grade A

  • Corewell Health Greenville Hospital (Greenville, Michigan) 
  • Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit, Michigan) 
  • Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital (Cadillac, Michigan) 
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 

Grade B

  • Ascension Borgess Hospital (Kalamazoo, Michigan) 
  • Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals Butterworth (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 
  • McLaren Flint (Flint, Michigan) 
  • Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital (Ypsilanti, Michigan) 

Grade C

  • University of Michigan Health Sparrow Lansing (Lansing, Michigan) 
  • Hurley Medical Center (Flint, Michigan) 
  • Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital (Muskegon, Michigan) 
  • Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital (Dearborn, Michigan) 

Grade D or F

  • DMC Harper University Hospital (Detroit, Michigan) D 
  • ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital (Monroe, Michigan) D 
  • DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital (Detroit, Michigan) F 
  • DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital (Detroit, Michigan) F 

It’s important to note that hospitals with lower grades can still provide life-saving services. And hospital grades can change over time. For example, a hospital may improve their safety protocol, leading to higher scores in that area the next time they are assessed. You can view the history of a hospital’s grade on The Leapfrog Group’s website under the individual hospital profile. These grades aren’t locked in stone, hence why hospitals are assessed bi-annually. 

I Think I’ve Suffered from Hospital Negligence: What Now?

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered from hospital negligence, also known as hospital malpractice, it’s important to seek professional legal guidance quickly. Our expert lawyers for hospital negligence are here to help you navigate the complex process of filing a claim. Hospital malpractice can result in serious harm and can be a sensitive issue. Our client-centered philosophy means the H/S Law team is with you every step of the process, from the first phone call all the way to trial, if necessary.  

It’s essential to be aware of potential risks and safety issues at the hospitals near you, and if you’ve experienced hospital malpractice, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced team of medical malpractice attorneys in Michigan to investigate your case. You may be entitled to damages, like lost wages, pain and suffering, or medical costs, if you’ve suffered from hospital negligence. Please call us during regular business hours at 616.278.0888, we’re here to listen.