COVINGTON – St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital has been awarded an “A” grade for patient safety for the 21st consecutive grading period by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog.
The spring 2026 recognition extends St. Tammany Health System’s straight-A streak to more than 10 years, dating to April 2016. It is the longest active streak in the state of Louisiana.
Health system President and CEO Joan Coffman said the achievement is emblematic of the dedication of health system colleagues to patient safety and the foundational role it plays in St. Tammany Health System’s overall mission of caring for the Northshore community with quality and compassion.
“This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment of our colleagues and physicians to deliver safe, high-quality care to every patient, every time,” Coffman said. “Earning an A for more than a decade is not about a moment in time but about a culture of teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement. We are grateful to those who place their trust in us, and we remain dedicated to protecting that trust in every encounter.”
The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” or “F” grade twice annually – in the spring and again in the fall – to all general hospitals across the country. To do so, it uses evidence-based measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
It is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
“St. Tammany Health System deserves recognition for its unwavering focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for 21 consecutive cycles,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.”
Visit hospitalsafetygrade.org to see more details on St. Tammany Health System’s Leapfrog performance, and for consumer-friendly patient safety tips.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life. Together, west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders represent the most complete system of care, aligning behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is A+ rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.
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.