How safe are SLO County hospitals? These spots got straight A’s for patient care
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Three Central Coast hospitals earned A grades; two maintained straight A runs.
- French Hospital, Marian Regional and Arroyo Grande achieved top safety marks.
- Adventist Health centers lagged with B and C grades, showing mixed risks.
Several Central Coast hospitals are among the safest health care facilities in the nation, according to a nonprofit organization that evaluates patient safety and care.
The Leapfrog Group releases Hospital Safety Grade reports twice a year for nearly 3,000 general hospitals in the United States.
Grades are based on several critical factors, including rates of preventable errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
In its fall 2025 report, released Nov. 13 and searchable as an online database, health care facilities across the country were graded on a scale of A to F — with A being the highest grade and F the lowest.
Here’s how local hospitals scored:
What are the safest hospitals on the Central Coast?
Three hospitals on the Central Coast earned A grades — the highest score possible — in The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2025 report.
Out of those facilities, two nabbed straight-A scores — holding top grades for more than two years in a row, Leapfrog said.
Only 358 hospitals in the United States received straight A’s in the fall report, according to the nonprofit group.
French Hospital Medical Center, 1911 Johnson Ave. in San Luis Obispo, was one of the top-rated hospitals in San Luis Obispo County with a straight A score.
It earned the best scores possible for handling problems during surgery, having effective practices to prevent medical errors and employing effective, communicative and specially trained doctors, nurses and hospital staff, according to The Leapfrog Group.
It was French Hospital’s 28th consecutive time earning an A grade, dating back to 2012, according to a hospital news release.
It is one of only two California health care facilities to attain such a long-running A streak, the hospital said.
“This unbroken record reflects the meticulous attention to detail, the continuous learning, and the deep, shared commitment across every department to ensure the best possible care, every single time,“ Dr. Tom Vendegna, the chief medical officer at French Hospital Medical Center, said in the release.
Marian Regional Medical Center, 1400 East Church St. in Santa Maria, earned a straight-A grade for fall 2025 as well.
The hospital in northern Santa Barbara County earned top marks from The Leapfrog Group for having adequate practices in place to prevent errors, including excellent handwashing, staff teamwork and medication administration.
The health care facility also scored well for effectively handling safety problems and employing specially-trained doctors to treat patients in the intensive care unit.
“This recognition is a direct result of the incredible dedication of our entire hospital family, from the nurses and doctors who care for patients at the bedside to the support teams behind the scenes,” Sue Andersen, president and CEO of Marian Regional Medical Center and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, said in a news release. “It assures you that when you choose us for your care, you are choosing an environment built on continuous excellence, where your well-being is always protected, and where you can heal with confidence.”
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, 345 South Halcyon Road in Arroyo Grande, also secured The Leapfrog Group’s highest grade possible for patient safety and health care practices.
The San Luis Obispo County hospital received better-than-average hospital scores for handling safety problems, such as harmful events, collapsed lungs and dangerous blood clots.
It also achieved high marks for preventing medical errors through effective staff communication about medicines and discharges, as well as proper handwashing and medication administration practices.
All three hospitals are owned and operated by Dignity Health Central Coast.
Which SLO County hospital got a B for patient care?
Two SLO County health care facilities received lower grades from The Leapfrog Group in its fall 2025 report.
Adventist Health Sierra Vista, 1010 Murray Ave. in San Luis Obispo, earned a B grade for having effective practices in place to treat infections and handle problems that arise with surgery, such as serious breathing problems or blood leakage.
However, Sierra Vista received the best score possible for its handling of problems that occur during surgery, according to the Leapfrog report.
The facility received slightly below-average scores for implementing practices to prevent medical errors and was dinged for having poor communication with nurses and lackluster leadership to prevent medical issues.
The SLO County hospital’s B grade represents an improvement over its score in spring 2025. At the time, it received a C grade from The Leapfrog Group.
Local hospital got a C for safety
Adventist Health Twin Cities, 1100 Las Tablas Road in Templeton, received a C grade for fall 2025 after receiving below average scores for treating infections, including urinary tract and sepsis infections.
The North County hospital also scored poorly when it came to handling safety problems.
Patients at the hospital tended to experience more harmful events, falls and injuries than average, The Leapfrog Group said.
However, Adventist Health Twin Cities received a better grade in The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2025 report than it did in the spring.
In May, the hospital received a D for patient care and safety.
“The improvement in our grades reflects the significant work and investment our teams have made over the past 18 months to strengthen staffing, clinical operations, and patient-safety systems,” Ryan Ashlock, president of the Adventist Health Central Coast service area, said in a statement to The Tribune.
“While these advancements are already making a real difference for patients today, it will take time for national rating systems like Leapfrog to fully capture that progress. Our focus remains on delivering excellent care every day for the Central Coast,” he said.
Both hospitals are owned and operated by Adventist Health, which is headquartered in Roseville.
How did The Leapfrog Group grade health care facilities?
The Leapfrog Group grades health care facilities on a scale from A to F based on their “overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors.”
According to the group, these grades are calculated using up to 31 national performance measures sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, The Leapfrog Hospital Survey and other data sources.
Under the guidance of a panel of patient safety experts, The Leapfrog Group selected about two dozen evidence-based measures, grouped into five key categories, to determine its scoring methodology.
Those categories are:
- Infections
- Problems with surgery
- Safety problems
- Practices to prevent errors
- Doctors, nurses and hospital staff
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
