BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital has once again earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, placing the Berkeley County hospital among the top-performing facilities in the nation for patient safety.
The spring 2026 grades, released Wednesday by the nonprofit watchdog organization, evaluate hospitals across the country on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
According to the report, Roper Berkeley has consistently maintained an “A” rating dating back to at least spring 2023.
South Carolina Among Nation’s Top States for Hospital Safety
The Leapfrog Group ranked South Carolina among the top states in the country for the percentage of hospitals receiving an “A” grade.
The state joined Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, Montana, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and California as leaders in hospital safety performance nationwide.
Leapfrog President and CEO Leah Binder said hospitals across the country are showing meaningful progress in improving patient safety measures.
“The good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives,” Binder said in a statement. “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.”
Report Highlights Nationwide Safety Improvements
The biannual Hospital Safety Grade evaluates hospitals using dozens of performance measures related to infections, medication safety and patient experience.
Nationally, the spring 2026 report showed significant improvements in several key patient safety categories since the height of pandemic-era challenges.
Among the findings:
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections decreased by 50%
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections dropped by 45%
- MRSA infections declined by 42%
- C. diff infections decreased by 30%
The report also found major gains in medication safety systems designed to reduce prescription mistakes and ensure patients receive the correct medications.
Lowcountry Hospitals Earn Mixed Grades
Several Lowcountry hospitals received strong marks in the latest Leapfrog report, with multiple facilities earning top “A” grades for patient safety.
Among them were Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center, Roper Hospital, Roper St. Francis Healthcare – Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, and Roper St. Francis Healthcare – Mount Pleasant Hospital, all of which received “A” ratings.
East Cooper Medical Center received a “B” grade, while Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) received a “C” grade in the spring 2026 report.
The biannual Safety Grade is an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” assigned to most general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect
patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections. It is the only ratings program focused exclusively on how safe hospitals are for patients.
Leapfrog officials said the grades are intended to help patients make informed healthcare decisions while encouraging hospitals nationwide to continue improving patient safety standards. To view grades of other hospitals, visit this link.
