Mission Regional Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco have each been awarded an “A” grade for patient safety for the fall of 2025 by The Leapfrog Group, a national, independent healthcare ratings organization.
This prestigious distinction places the three Prime Healthcare hospitals among the safest hospitals in the country for protecting patients from preventable harm, errors, and complications.
The recognition also highlights the Prime hospitals’ long-term consistency. Over the past four years, the Prime Healthcare hospitals have been the most dependable providers of patient safety excellence in the Rio Grande Valley.
For example, Mission Regional Medical Center has earned straight “A’s” since 2020 — 11 consecutive grading periods (since grades are awarded twice a year, in the fall and the spring). This makes Mission Regional the only hospital in Hidalgo County with such sustained performance.
Meanwhile, Harlingen Medical Center has received nine consecutive “A” grades since 2021, by far the longest streak among Cameron County hospitals.
Knapp Medical Center has also demonstrated strong safety performance, earning four “A” grades and three “B” grades since 2022.
Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are issued each spring and fall, using a letter grade system similar to academic grading. The ratings are based on nationally recognized, evidence-based measures focused on preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.
“These outstanding grades reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering the safest, highest-quality care to patients across the Rio Grande Valley,” the Prime hospitals said in a joint statement.
“We are honored to have earned a grade ‘A’ on Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Score 11 times in a row,” said Kane Dawson, CEO of Mission Regional Medical Center. “Quality care matters. By choosing our hospitals, you can ensure that you receive the high-quality outcomes you rightly deserve.”
Todd Mann, CEO of Harlingen Medical Center, noted that the recognition “reflects the steadfast dedication of our teams and our ongoing commitment to deliver consistent, exceptional care to the patients and communities we serve.”
Rene J. Lopez, CEO for Knapp Medical Center, said the awards are a testament to the work of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing “the highest-quality healthcare to residents of the Valley — every patient, every time.”
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, said that earning an ‘A’ Grade means that “Mission Regional Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center and Knapp Medical Center made a true commitment to put patient safety first.”
“We congratulate the leadership, board, clinicians, staff, and volunteers that all had a role to play in this achievement,” she said.
Dr. Padmini Bhadriraju, Chief Medical Officer for Prime Healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley, expressed gratitude for the teams who made these results possible. “What it means for you and your family is that when you come through our doors, we provide excellent care, a safe environment, and uncompromising quality in every service we deliver,” she said.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade remains the nation’s only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, infections, and injuries — issues that contribute to more than 500 patient deaths per day in the U.S. The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.
For full details on Leapfrog grades for the Prime Healthcare hospitals — and for tips on staying safe during a hospital stay — visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
For more information on award-winning patient care in the Valley, please visit MissionRMC.org, HarlingenMedicalCenter.com, and KnappMed.org.
