PBMC receives third ‘A’ rating in a row from healthcare watchdog group

Peconic Bay Medical Center has received an “A” rating for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2024 report — the third “A” rating in a row for the Riverhead hospital.

PBMC was one of 10 hospitals on Long Island to receive an “A” rating. Stony Brook Southampton Hospital received an “A” rating and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport received a “C” rating from the organization.

The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization, uses its safety grades to help better inform patients’ decisions on where to seek treatment, according to the organization’s website. The results are based on safety data reported by hospitals, which are compared to standards prepared by national healthcare experts, according to the group.

“Receiving an A hospital safety rating for the third time in a row reflects the significant investments we’ve made to enhancing the patient experience and raising the level of medical care that’s available and accessible to residents throughout Eastern Suffolk County,” PBMC executive director Amy Loeb said in a press release announcing the rating. “No one should feel the need to compromise their health for the suburban way of life, and I’m incredibly grateful to each of our exceptional teams who helped to make this a reality.”

Leapfrog rates hospitals based on multiple criteria across five categories: infections; problems with surgery; safety problems; practices to prevent errors; and doctors, nurses and hospital staff. 

Leapfrog updates its hospital safety grades twice per year. PBMC received an “A” rating from Leapfrog in both the spring and fall of last year. In 2022, 2021 and 2020 the hospital received “B” and “C” ratings. The hospital unveiled plans last year to expand its facilities and services, including an expanded emergency department, increased bed capacity, and a new private Center for Women and Infants. The hospital plans to open its expanded emergency department this month.