HCA Florida Putnam Hospital Leaps to Top in Patient Safety Assessment with A Grade

HCA Florida Putnam Hospital earned an A grade in its most recent evaluation from The Leapfrog Group, moving up from a B last year and placing the Palatka facility among the nation’s top hospitals for patient safety. The recognition, based on more than 30 patient safety measures including infection rates and surgical complications, reflects intentional improvements in communication, medication safety, and overall quality practices over the past year.

Alongside the Leapfrog A grade, the hospital received multiple five-star ratings from Healthgrades for clinical excellence in heart failure, hip fracture, diabetic hospitalization, and bowel obstruction care, including eight consecutive years of five stars for hip fracture treatment and four for diabetic hospitalization. Hospital CEO Landon Smith credited the achievements to the hard work of staff and physicians, as well as HCA Healthcare’s broader investments in people, resources, and best practices, and said the hospital plans to continue expanding services, upgrading facilities, and improving quality to meet the community’s needs.