CarolinaEast Medical Center Achieves Elite National Status: ‘Straight A’ Hospital for Patient Safety

(New Bern, NC) – CarolinaEast Medical Center was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the sixth consecutive grading round by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This designates CarolinaEast as a “Straight A” hospital, defined as hospitals that have an A for Spring 2026 and have sustained that grade for the last five or more grading rounds. This select group represents 15% of all eligible hospitals.

“Every day, our 3,200 employees and more than 300 volunteers demonstrate an extraordinary level of dedication and compassion to keep our patients safe,” said Michael Smith, President and CEO of CarolinaEast Health System. “Earning six consecutive ‘A’ safety grades from one of the nation’s leading healthcare ratings organizations is a testament to their commitment to excellence in patient care.”

The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

“CarolinaEast deserves recognition for its unwavering focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for six consecutive cycles,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

Additionally, North Carolina is ranked #8 in the state rankings. To see CarolinaEast’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.

About CarolinaEast Health System
CarolinaEast Health System has been serving the growing needs of the coastal North Carolina community since 1963. In addition to the system’s flagship, 350 bed CarolinaEast Medical Center, CarolinaEast includes a rehabilitation hospital, free-
standing surgery center, the SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center, and numerous CarolinaEast Physician practices providing primary and specialty care for all phases of life from offices in four counties.