Credit: (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

The latest grades are in for New Jersey’s hospitals, and fewer acute care facilities in the state have received a top grade of A from an influential national health care quality monitor.

Twenty-four New Jersey hospitals got an A from The Leapfrog Group, which released its fall 2023 Hospital Safety Grades on Monday. That was 11 fewer than in the spring. Another 27 received a B. As in the spring, no New Jersey hospital received a failing score.

The grades reflect preventable medical errors, accidents, injuries, infections and patient experience, as reported by the hospitals. Sixty-seven of New Jersey’s 72 acute care hospitals submitted enough data to be graded by the national nonprofit this fall.

“The drop in A’s reminds us that quality improvement is a continuous journey that requires attention and persistence,” said Adelisa Perez-Hudgins, a nurse and director of quality for the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, which touts Leapfrog’s monitoring work. “Top rated hospitals are focused on evaluation, education, and supporting people working at all levels of their organization.”

Despite the decrease in A grades this fall, about 36% of New Jersey hospitals received the highest mark from Leapfrog, compared to less than 30% nationwide. Nearly 40% of hospitals here got a B on this latest report card and 24% were given a C, versus 24% and 39% respectively nationwide. But while New Jersey had the highest percentage of A grades nationwide in the spring, the fall report indicates a dozen states scored higher this time.

Founded in 2000, Leapfrog assesses data from nearly 3,000 acute care hospitals nationwide for spring and fall safety grades. The new data shows 85% of facilities nationwide improved performance on at least one of three hospital-acquired infections — involving central-line IVs, catheters and a potentially deadly drug-resistant bacteria — which Leapfrog said rose to a five-year high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More information on hospital care — and outpatient surgery centers — can be found on The Leapfrog Group’s website.

— Chart by Genesis Obando