Independence Health System Clarion Hospital Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Fall 2025 Safety Grade is a national recognition for commitment to patient safety 

CLARION, Pa., Nov.13, 2025 – Independence Health System’s Clarion Hospital earned

an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of patient safety focused exclusively on errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

“Our dedicated team of caregivers at Clarion Hospital works tirelessly every day to deliver the highest standard of care,” said Matthew Schnur, president of Butler Memorial and Clarion hospitals. “This means ensuring patient safety and achieving positive health outcomes. We’re especially proud to be placed among the top 32 percent of hospitals nationwide for hospital safety. Our commitment to quality has earned us an ‘A’ rating from The Leapfrog Group—a meaningful recognition of the progress we’ve made in keeping expert care, here, in our community.”

“Earning an ‘A’ Grade means Clarion Hospital made a true commitment to put patient safety first,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers that all had a role to play in this achievement.” 

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

This most recent recognition by The Leapfrog Group reflects Independence Health System’s commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality, care to the communities it serves. To learn more about Independence Health System’s award-winning tertiary programs, visit  www.independence.health. 

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About The Leapfrog Group 

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. 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. 

About Independence Health System

Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than 10 counties. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.