DOVER, N.H. – Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been awarded an “A” grade for safety by the Leapfrog Group, an independent, national not-for-profit watchdog organization. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

“Nothing is more important at Wentworth-Douglass than patient safety and this is a testament to our staff’s steadfast commitment to that,” said Jeff Hughes, President & CEO of Wentworth-Douglass. “I’m proud that our culture of safety is reflected not just in this award, but in everything we do.”

The Leapfrog Group has a 10-year history of assigning letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

“Patient safety is at the center of everything we do, so I’m grateful that this award is reflective of our culture,” said Dr. Gregg Meyer, President of Mass General Brigham’s Community Division. “It’s a testament to the outstanding staff at Wentworth-Douglass and their consistent, unwavering commitment to patient safety – no matter the challenges.”

Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.

“I applaud the hospital leadership and workforce for their strong commitment to safety and transparency,” said Leah Binder, President and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a sign that hospitals are continuously evaluating their performance, so that they can best protect patients. Your hospital team should be extremely proud of their dedication and achievement.”

The full grade details for hospitals are available online at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.