Three Volusia County hospitals earn A grades for patient safety

For people choosing where to get care, safety matters — and three hospitals in Volusia County just earned the highest possible grade for protecting patients from harm.

AdventHealth DeLand, AdventHealth Fish Memorial, and AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach each received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that evaluates hospital safety. The grade is based on how well hospitals prevent medical errors, injuries, and infections.

AdventHealth DeLand has now earned 21 straight A’s since 2015 — one of the longest-running streaks in the region. AdventHealth Fish Memorial isn’t far behind, earning its 20^th consecutive A. AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach is gaining ground with its third straight A, showing strong progress after years of focused improvement.

“These grades reflect years of hard work,” said Lorenzo Brown, president and CEO for AdventHealth’s West Volusia, North Lake and South Sumter counties region. “I’m proud of our team for making safety part of our culture — every shift, every day, year after year. These grades are a reflection of their consistency, care and heart.”

In addition to the A grades, AdventHealth DeLand and AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach were named Leapfrog Top Hospitals in 2024, a distinction given to a small number of hospitals nationwide that excel in safety and overall quality.

“These recognitions show how seriously our teams take patient safety,” said David Weis, president and CEO of AdventHealth’s East Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties region. “It’s more than a letter grade — it’s about protecting people and earning their trust, one patient at a time.”

Leapfrog grades hospitals twice a year using more than 30 national safety measures. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to AdventHealth DeLand, AdventHealth Fish Memorial and AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, along with their leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where patients come first.”

To see full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.