UNC Health Rockingham Strengthens Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade to a “B”
UNC Health Rockingham has earned a “B” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog focused exclusively on patient safety. For a small rural hospital, a “B” grade is a strong achievement and reflects UNC Health Rockingham’s ongoing commitment to protecting patients from preventable harm, including medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
“Patient safety guides every decision we make,” said Dr. Thresa Hardy, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of UNC Health Rockingham. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and teammates, who work every day to deliver safe, high-quality care for the patients and families who count on us.”
Issued twice each year, Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are among the nation’s best-known measures of patient safety. Grades are based on evidence-based measures that assess how well hospitals prevent errors, injuries, accidents and infections, offering patients and families another tool for making informed healthcare decisions.
The spring 2026 grades come as Leapfrog reports significant improvement nationwide in 17 measures of patient safety, including lower rates of several healthcare-associated infections, stronger medication safety practices and gains in patient experience. In that context, UNC Health Rockingham’s “B” grade stands out as an outstanding result for a rural community hospital and reinforces the organization’s continued focus on creating a safer care environment for every patient served.
UNC Health Rockingham continues to strengthen clinical quality, safety processes and team-based care across the organization. The Leapfrog grade underscores that commitment and reflects the hospital’s mission to provide safe, compassionate and reliable care close to home.
This latest recognition adds to UNC Health Rockingham’s strong track record for quality. The hospital remains deeply committed to providing excellent, high-quality care to patients, earning a CMS Four-Star Quality Rating, top Vizient rankings and numerous other accolades that reflect continued progress in safety, outcomes and patient experience.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. The biannual grades are intended to help patients make informed decisions and to encourage transparency and continuous improvement across healthcare.
UNC Health Rockingham is a nonprofit, 108-bed community hospital preserving excellent, compassionate and trusted care where it is needed most: close to home. As a cornerstone in Eden, N.C., and a major employer, UNC Health Rockingham serves people throughout Rockingham County and in neighboring Southern Virginia areas. In addition to inpatient, outpatient, surgical and emergency care, the hospital offers diagnostic and treatment services, provide screenings and tests and lead wellness initiatives. More information about UNC Health Rockingham may be found at uncrockingham.org.
