Two Keck Medicine of USC Hospitals named Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals

Hospitals nationally recognized for outstanding quality and safety

2025-12-15

(Press-News.org) LOS ANGELES — Two Keck Medicine of USC hospitals – USC Norris Cancer Hospital and Keck Hospital of USC – have each received a Top Teaching Hospital award for outstanding achievement in patient safety and quality from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit national watchdog organization. It is the first time two hospitals within the health system have received this honor simultaneously.

“This award is one of the most competitive and prestigious in the nation and puts these hospitals among the safest in the country,” said Marty Sargeant, MBA, CEO of Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes USC Norris Cancer Hospital and Keck Hospital. “We are honored to be recognized for creating a culture of trust, transparency and excellence in every aspect of care.”

To qualify for the distinction, hospitals must rank top among peers on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest standards of care. Over 2,400 hospitals were considered for the award, and less than 7% of the eligible hospitals earned the honor of Top Hospital in one of four categories: children’s, general, rural and teaching.

This is the fifth year in a row the cancer hospital has received this distinction and the first year for Keck Hospital.

“Patient safety is our top priority at the medical center as we continually follow best practices in the field,” said Stephanie Hall, MD, MHA, chief medical officer of the medical center. “This recognition by The Leapfrog Group is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the entire staff who always put our patients first.”

These awards follow on the heels of Keck Hospital earning a Fall and Spring 2025 "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. Additionally, Vizient Inc. named Keck Hospital a 2025 top performer, placing the hospital among the top 12 hospitals in the country for excellence in delivering high-quality care.

USC Norris Cancer Hospital’s cancer program is ranked in the top 25 in the country according to the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. The hospital is part of USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, which has been designated by the National Cancer Institute as one of the nation’s 51 comprehensive cancer centers, a select group of institutions providing leadership in cancer treatment, research, prevention and education. 

To see the full list of organizations honored as 2025 Top Hospitals, visit http://www.leapfroggroup.org/tophospitals.

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Keck Medical Center of USC is part of Keck Medicine of USC. For more information about Keck Medicine, please visit news.KeckMedicine.org.

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Two Keck Medicine of USC Hospitals named Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals

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