Sixteen Maine hospitals received “A” ratings for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits.

Another three Maine hospitals received a “B” rating, while York Hospital got a “C,” according to the Leapfrog Group website. The results for the Hospital Safety Score were announced this week.

Additional Photos

This June 2011 file photo shows Mercy Hospital's primary care facility on Route 1 in Yarmouth. Mercy was one of 16 Maine hospitals to receive an "A" safety rating in a new study. Of the 50 states, only Massachusetts performed as well as Maine. Gabe Souza / Staff Photographer

The study by the Leapfrog Group found that out of 49 states, Massachusetts and Maine have the most “A” grade hospitals at 83 and 80 percent, respectively. New Mexico fell to the bottom of the list with only 7 percent of its hospitals getting an “A.”

The scores were awarded based on publicly available safety data on a hospital’s ability to keep patients free from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors. At least 180,000 patients are killed every year from errors, accidents, injuries, and infections in American hospitals, Leapfrog Group said.

“Leapfrog’s primary mission is to create a more transparent health care system, where consumers can access the information they need to make critical decisions about where to seek care – and where that in turn will drive a much needed change in the market,” says Keith Reissaus, board chair of The Leapfrog Group.

“Leapfrog is unbiased in telling the whole truth about how hospitals are doing, no matter how much discomfort that causes many of them. Consumers deserve ‘A’ hospitals and someday we may see all hospitals earning ‘A’s.’ However, we are not there yet,” he said.

To see the full list of Maine hospitals and their ratings, click here.

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