The Spring 2026 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades were released on May 6, 2026, showing a strong performance for several facilities in Polk County. Florida as a whole climbed to 7th in the nation for hospital safety this period.
In Polk County, the “best” rankings are dominated by BayCare and AdventHealth facilities, while other major centers maintained mid-range scores.
The Best: “A” Rated Hospitals
Three hospitals in Polk County earned the top safety grade this spring. Winter Haven Hospital and Bartow Regional both maintained their “A” status from previous cycles.
| Hospital | Grade (Spring 2026) | Network |
| Bartow Regional Medical Center | A | BayCare |
| Winter Haven Hospital | A | BayCare |
| AdventHealth Heart of Florida | A | AdventHealth |
The Mid-Range: “B” and “C” Rated Hospitals
Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) currently holds a “C” grade. While it has made strides in certain patient experience measures, it continues to face challenges in specific categories like 15-day readmission rates and certain infection metrics compared to national averages.
| Hospital | Grade (Spring 2026) | Network |
| AdventHealth Lake Wales | B | AdventHealth |
| Lakeland Regional Health | C | Independent |
Key Takeaways for 2026
- BayCare’s Consistency: Both BayCare hospitals in the county (Bartow and Winter Haven) have successfully “hardwired” safety protocols, keeping them in the “A” category for multiple consecutive years.
- National Trends: The 2026 report noted a significant nationwide decrease in healthcare-associated infections, including a 50% drop in central line-associated bloodstream infections since 2022.
- New “Grade Not Assigned” (GNA) Category: Due to a federal court ruling in early 2026, some hospitals that did not participate in the Leapfrog survey were not assigned a grade at all this year, rather than being graded based on secondary data.
Note: These grades focus specifically on preventable harm, such as infections, surgery errors, and staffing levels, rather than general medical outcomes or specialized care success.