Whitfield, Vaughan earn Cs in latest hospital safety survey

Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis and Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma received grades of C in the latest hospital safety survey.

Twice a year, the Washington-based Leapfrog Group releases safety grades for all general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.

These largely preventable problems harm one in four hospital inpatients and cause as many as 250,000 deaths each year, according to Leapfrog.

Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis and Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma received grades of C in the fall 2025 survey, the same score both received in the spring survey. Over the last seven surveys dating back to spring 2022, Whitfield earned four Cs, one B in fall of 2024 and Ds in spring 2024 and fall 2023.

Over that same period, Vaughan received five Cs and Bs in spring 2023 and fall 2022. 

In the latest survey, Whitfield ranked highly in the categories of “problems with surgery,” “practices to prevent errors” and in practices related to “doctors, nurses and hospital staff.” The hospital performed slightly below the national average in safety problems like falls and bed sores.

Cindy Parten, Whitfield’s executive director of quality, risk management and infection control, said the hospital is working hard to once again earn a B in the Leapfrog survey. She said the survey is worthwhile because it helps the hospital focus on patient safety. For instance, she said Whitfield is working to improve how they identify all medications each patient is taking, which is one of the items covered in the Leapfrog survey.

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Vaughan in Selma performed better than average in “problems with surgery,” “safety problems,” “practices to prevent errors,” and practices related to “doctors, nursing and hospital staff.” 

Black Belt patients who travel to Montgomery, Birmingham or Tuscaloosa for specialty care will find a mixed bag. Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery received a grade of F, and the financially troubled Jackson Hospital in Montgomery received a grade of D. Baptist Medical Center East earned a C grade.

UAB in Birmingham earned a grade of D. Grandview Medical Center was the only Birmingham-area hospital to earn a B.  

DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and Northport Medical Center in neighboring Northport earned B grades.

Five Alabama hospitals earned As from Leapfrog: Flowers Hospital and Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan, North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette, Baldwin Health in Foley, and Riverview Regional Medical Center in Gadsden.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only ratings program focused exclusively on accidents, errors, injuries and infections that harm or kill patients in hospitals. It is updated twice a year in the fall and spring, offering the public a reliable, independent assessment of hospital safety. The grades are determined by public, peer-reviewed methodology, calculated by top patient safety experts under the guidance of a National Expert Panel. The grading system is fully transparent and always freely available to the public at hospitalsafetygrade.org.