4 Nebraska Hospitals Earn Top Patient Safety Grades

Walking into a hospital means putting your life in someone else's hands. For patients at CHI Health Good Samaritan and CHI Health St. Francis, those hands just earned top marks for the fifth and fourth straight times.

The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that grades hospital safety, awarded "A" ratings to both Nebraska facilities this spring. Good Samaritan in Kearney celebrated its fifth consecutive "A," while St. Francis in Grand Island earned its fourth straight top grade.

Across Nebraska, only four hospitals received the highest possible rating. CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln and CHI Health Lakeside in Omaha also made the cut.

The rating system evaluates 32 evidence-based measures twice a year. Hospitals earn grades from "A" to "F" based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections.

"It's about making sure our community is in the safest hands possible when they walk through our doors," says Steve Schieber, president of St. Francis and interim president of Good Samaritan. "For our patients and their families, it truly means peace of mind."

That peace of mind comes from thousands of daily decisions by hospital staff. Every hand washing, medication check, and safety protocol adds up to create an environment where healing happens without harm.

The Ripple Effect

These grades matter far beyond hospital walls. When local healthcare facilities maintain top safety standards year after year, entire communities benefit from reduced medical errors and better outcomes.

Families facing medical emergencies no longer need to choose between staying close to home and seeking the safest care. The consistent excellence at these Nebraska hospitals proves that small cities can deliver world-class safety standards.

Kimber Bonner, vice president of patient care at Good Samaritan, credits the entire team. "Earning the top recognition for patient safety nationwide is a huge accomplishment for all our staff. It reflects our careful attention and commitment to delivering safe, high-quality patient care."

Patients can review complete safety information for both hospitals at HospitalSafetyGrade.org, where transparent data helps families make informed healthcare decisions.