FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2026
Contact: Jennifer Murray 831-515-2802
Watsonville Community Hospital Earns “A” Safety Grade,
Marking Dramatic Turnaround Under Public Ownership
Hospital rises from a “D” grade in 2022 to top rating by Leapfrog Hospital Group — testament to staff dedication and community-focused leadership
WATSONVILLE, CA, May 6, 2026 — Watsonville Community Hospital today announced it has earned an “A” grade in the Spring 2026 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ratings — the highest possible designation — representing one of the most significant safety turnarounds among community hospitals in California. The grade was released this week by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization that evaluates hospital safety and quality on behalf of patients and healthcare consumers.
The achievement is particularly meaningful given the hospital's history. When the Pajaro Valley Health Care District assumed public ownership and oversight of Watsonville Community Hospital in the fall of 2022, following a period of private corporate ownership, the hospital carried a “D” safety grade. In less than four years under public stewardship, the hospital has climbed to the top of the grading scale.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are assigned twice annually to nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals nationwide and are based on up to 32 evidence-based measures of patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is used by patients, employers, and referring physicians to make informed decisions about where to seek care. Hospitals earning an "A" grade have demonstrated superior performance in preventing medical errors, infections, injuries, and other preventable patient harms.
“This ‘A’ grade belongs entirely to the hardworking, dedicated people who work at this hospital — the nurses, physicians, technicians, support staff, and every team member who shows up every day committed to doing right by our patients,” said Stephen Gray, CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital. “When the Pajaro Valley Health Care District took ownership in 2022, we made a promise to this community: that a publicly owned hospital would mean a safer, more accountable hospital.”
Watsonville Community Hospital made measurable, impactful safety improvements including:
- additional board-certified physicians for adult hospitalized patients
- implementation of bar code medication administration
- reduction of serious patient falls
- lowering of infection rates by over 70%
- improvement in patient satisfaction ratings for their care and caregivers’ communication
“The medical staff is proud of the hard work of Watsonville's ancillary staff, nurses and physicians who contributed to this important patient safety recognition,” said Chief of Medical Staff Dr. Christopher O’Grady.
“Going from a ‘D’ to an ‘A’ is proof that public ownership works, that community investment works, and that the people of Watsonville deserve — and now have — a hospital they can trust,” Gray said. “I could not be more proud of what this team has accomplished."
Watsonville Community Hospital serves the Pajaro Valley and surrounding communities in Santa Cruz County and northern Monterey County, providing a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital is governed by the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, a local public agency whose board is elected by the community.
To view Watsonville Community Hospital's Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org.
About the Pajaro Valley Health Care District
The Pajaro Valley Health Care District is a public healthcare district formed to ensure continued access to high-quality, equitable healthcare for the Pajaro Valley community. Established in 2022 to help preserve and strengthen local hospital services, the District oversees Watsonville Community Hospital and is governed by a publicly elected five-member board committed to supporting sustainable operations, expanding access to care, and improving community health outcomes. For more information, pvhcd.org.
About Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville Community Hospital is a public, non-profit community healthcare provider; a 106-
bed acute care facility serving Watsonville and the surrounding culturally diverse tri-county area along California’s Central Coast. The hospital offers a wide range of quality medical and surgical services including cardiac care, diagnostic imaging, emergency services, maternity
services, orthopedics, pediatrics, rehabilitation services, robotic surgery, urology, vascular surgery, women’s health services, and wound care. With 650 employees and more than 300 physicians, the hospital strives to exceed patient expectations, deliver the highest quality care, and be a place of healing, caring and connection for patients and families in the community we call home.