Hospitals Fail to Protect Patients, Alarming Safety Grades Revealed

According to a recent report, patient safety remains a major concern at hospitals in the Kansas City area. The Leapfrog Group, a healthcare watchdog nonprofit, has been grading hospitals on patient safety for over 20 years. In their latest fall 2025 assessment, the organization found that preventable safety issues, such as infections, surgical errors, and medication mix-ups, continue to put patients at risk.

Nationwide, these types of preventable problems kill more than 200,000 people each year. In the Kansas City region, the situation is particularly concerning. While no hospitals received the lowest D or F grades, many struggled to meet basic safety standards. University Health Truman Medical Center, for instance, scored below average in 10 out of 32 categories, including the worst possible score on nursing and bedside care.

The report also highlighted a stark divide between Kansas and Missouri hospitals. In Kansas, 23% of hospitals earned A grades, while in Missouri, that figure dropped to just 17%, placing the state 40th in the nation. This disparity underscores the need for improved patient safety practices across the region.

As patients, we put our trust in medical professionals to provide safe, high-quality care. But this report serves as a sobering reminder that hospitals must do more to protect the lives of those in their care.