Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, Md  –   Walter Reed National Military Medical Center again earned a prestigious “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, this for the fall 2024. Walter Reed previously earned the “A” grade for spring 2024.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a bi-annual scoring of more than 2,600 acute-care hospitals in the United States. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to hospitals across the country based on over 30 measures of quality and safety. The grades are peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

The "A" grade is a nationwide distinction, showcasing that the facility is prioritizing the health, safety, and welfare of its patients, and it places Walter Reed among the top tier of hospitals for maintaining the strictest safety standards and demonstrating excellence in protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care. Participation in Leapfrog's evaluation process demonstrates Walter Reed's commitment to external transparency and continuous improvement.

Walter Reed was noted for regularly monitoring hand hygiene practices for everyone interacting with patients, providing feedback to ensure compliance, and fostering a culture of good hand hygiene. This included offering training and education, and providing equipment, such as paper towels, soap dispensers, and hand sanitizer. Walter Reed also achieved or exceeded standards in a number of areas, including maternity care, preventing patient harm, medication safety, pediatric care and a number of surgical procedures.

Since 2018, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) has demonstrated progressive leadership in health system transparency by participating in The Leapfrog Group's surveys. The DHA is recognized as the first federal health system to engage with Leapfrog, underscoring its role as a pacesetter in federal health care transparency and patient safety.

For information about Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, please visit walterreed.tricare.mil/About-Us.