Beloit Memorial Hospital has secured the highest safety rating in Rock County, achieving a B grade in the latest semi-annual assessment by the Leapfrog Group. This Washington, D.C.-based organization evaluates nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States, focusing on metrics related to patient harm, errors, injuries, and infections. The ranking is derived from over 30 quality measures collected through voluntary surveys.
The hospital, located at 1969 W. Hart Road, excelled particularly in areas concerning infection control, surgical safety, error prevention practices, and adequate staffing. This B grade positions Beloit Memorial Hospital as the best-performing facility in Rock County and second highest in the surrounding region. The facility has a strong track record in these assessments, having received a B in the spring and A grades in both the spring and fall of 2024.
While Beloit Memorial Hospital celebrates this achievement, administrators express a strong commitment to further improvement. “While we are pleased that Beloit Memorial has achieved a B rating and is recognized as the best in the county, our administration is not fully satisfied with this ranking,” said Lindsay Baumann, marketing manager for Beloit Health System. In an email statement, Baumann emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance safety protocols and patient care standards.
“Our goal is to move from a B to an A rating,” she stated, detailing the hospital’s active implementation of targeted quality improvement initiatives, investments in staff training, and the adoption of best practices in healthcare.
In contrast, Mercyhealth’s facilities received less favorable ratings. The Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville and Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford earned C grades. Notably, the Janesville hospital improved from a D grade in previous assessments. Therese Michaels, media relations specialist for Mercyhealth, explained that the health system does not participate in the Leapfrog surveys, which negatively impacts its scores.
“Mercyhealth and other healthcare providers are routinely asked to participate in initiatives for publicly reporting data related to quality and patient safety. Mercyhealth does not submit data to Leapfrog for this report,” Michaels noted. However, she highlighted that Mercyhealth engages in other quality programs. For instance, Javon Bea Hospital Riverside was recognized as a national leader in patient care, having earned the Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award for both 2024 and 2025.
As hospitals strive for higher safety standards, Beloit Memorial Hospital’s commitment to ongoing enhancement reflects a broader trend in the healthcare sector, where institutions are increasingly focusing on patient safety and quality of care. This commitment may serve as a model for other facilities seeking to improve their ratings and ultimately, patient outcomes.
