Connecticut Among Top States for Hospital Safety in National Rankings
As a national report ranked Connecticut among the best states in the nation regarding access to acute hospital care, the state continues to invest in shoring up public health to support and protect residents.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade’s fall 2025 rankings saw Connecticut place fourth nationwide regarding the safety and quality of care in hospitals. With 13 of its 28 hospitals receiving A grades on a scale of A to F, the 46% score is only bested by care in Utah, Virginia and New Jersey.
The report puts focus on hospitals’ ability to prevent medical accidents and injuries in their operations, with the intent of increasing transparency on patient safety.
Hospitals with A grades, indicating the highest levels of safety, are located in Hartford, Middletown, Meriden, Bridgeport, New Britain, Norwich, Farmington, Willimantic, Danbury, Greenwich, Derby, Stafford Springs, Waterbury and Sharon. Five hospitals received B grades, eight received C grades and one received a D grade. No Connecticut hospitals received F grades.
While the report indicates those hospitals have room for improvement in their operations, its findings come as several are set to see newfound investments, some receiving new ownership in coming months.
On Thursday, Senate Democrats finalized an agreement allowing the state’s UConn Health healthcare system to purchase Waterbury Hospital, CT Insider reported. The hospital has languished under private equity ownership under Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., which reportedly underinvested in the hospital’s resources and impacted staffing, Connecticut Public reported. The UConn Health purchase, in addition to UConn’s teaching hospital purchasing Bristol and Day Kimball hospitals, will infuse new resources into Connecticut public health.
In Leapfrog’s rankings, Waterbury Hospital and Bristol Health received C grades, while Day Kimball received a D ranking, implying significant opportunity for improvement.
Additionally, Manchester Memorial Hospital, also previously owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, is expected to be acquired by Hartford Healthcare along with Rockville General Hospital, WFSB reported. While Manchester Memorial also received a C grade in the Leapfrog report, Hartford Healthcare’s Hartford Hospital received an A grade, implying significant benefits from the potential acquisition.
By Joe O’Leary