Seven Straight “A”s: Methodist Medical Center’s Legacy of Safety Excellence

The grade marks the seventh consecutive “A” received

Covenant Health’s Methodist Medical Center has earned another “A” Hospital Safety Grade for Spring 2026 from The Leapfrog Group. This marks the seventh consecutive “A” grade the hospital has received.  

Culture of Excellence at Methodist

“This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment our team members bring to patient safety every single day,” said Jeremy Biggs, Methodist Medical Center’s chief administrative officer. “Earning our seventh consecutive ‘A’ safety grade is not the result of one initiative or one department, it’s the result of a shared culture of excellence. I am proud of every team member making our hospital a place where patients can feel safe, respected and cared for at the highest level.” 

Methodist Medical Center is designated as a “Straight A” hospital, defined as hospitals that have earned an “A” grade for the spring and have sustained that grade for the previous five or more grading rounds. Roughly 15.7% of eligible hospitals have earned this designation. 

Data Backed Selection

The Leapfrog Group collects and reports data related to safety, quality and other aspects of hospitals’ performance. Leapfrog assigns safety grades based on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can lead to harm or death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

“Methodist Medical Center deserves recognition for its unwavering focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for seven consecutive cycles,” said Leah Binder, president and chief executive officer of The Leapfrog Group. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.” 

Priority of Safety Across All Our Teams

All other Covenant Health acute-care hospitals have earned this ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade distinction for the Spring 2026. These hospitals include: 

• Claiborne Medical Center, Tazewell 

• Covenant Health LeConte, Sevierville 

• Covenant Health Roane, Harriman 

• Cumberland Medical Center, Crossville 

• Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Lenoir City 

• Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville 

• Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, Morristown  

• Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville 

To see details about the safety grades and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. 

About The Leapfrog Group                                                                                    

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.