PATIENTS FOR PATIENT SAFETY US
Lawsuit Threatens Patient Safety Ratings
June 24, 2026
with Leah Binder, Shawn Gremminger, and Sue Sheridan
Medical errors are estimated to be one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. So why is it still so hard for patients to know which hospitals are safest?
In this episode of Health Dame, Robin Strongin talks with Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, Shawn Gremminger, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, and Sue Sheridan, president and CEO of Patients for Patient Safety US.
Together, they discuss why Hospital Safety Grades matter, how patients and employers use quality data to make better decisions, and what is at stake when transparency tools come under legal threat.
They also discuss a recent lawsuit affecting The Leapfrog Group’s hospital safety grades and why it could limit access to information patients and families rely on.
The episode looks at the human cost of medical errors, the role employers play in demanding safer care, and why patients need trusted, accessible information before they are in crisis.
Takeaways
- Patient safety is still a major national problem.
- Hospital safety data helps patients make informed choices.
- Transparency can push hospitals to improve.
- Patients often enter the healthcare system with too little information.
- Patient safety is personal.
- Employers have a stake in hospital safety.
- Higher cost does not always mean higher quality.
- Hospital Safety Grades can shape benefit design and contracting.
- The lawsuit against Leapfrog Group could limit access to safety information.
- Patients, families, and employers need trusted information before decisions are urgent.
PFPS US
Patients for Patient Safety US (PFPS US) is a patient-led, non-profit organization of dedicated individuals and organizations united in the mission to enhance patient safety for all Americans.
MISSION
To unite patients, families, and stakeholders to improve diagnostic accuracy, advance patient safety, and eliminate health disparities through research, policy, advocacy, and technology.
VISION
A world in which no one is harmed in health care, and every patient receives safe and respectful care every time, everywhere.
What We Do
Advocacy and policy in healthcare are closely interconnected concepts that together shape how healthcare organizations function, how care is delivered and paid for, what medicines or devices can be used to treat patients, how patient privacy is protected, and how health is maintained and continuously improved.
We are committed to advancing research that centers patient and family experiences, particularly in areas where harm is most prevalent, such as diagnostic safety and the dismissal of patient concerns.
In the rapidly evolving field of health technology, we are at the forefront of advancing responsible AI in healthcare.
Together, these efforts reflect PFPS US’s integrated approach to achieving zero harm in healthcare, combining patient-driven advocacy, rigorous research and measures, policy leadership, and technological innovation to create a safer, more equitable system for all.
Did You Know...
Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Diagnostic errors cause death and disability in approximately 800,000 patients annually and costs the healthcare system up to 17% of all healthcare costs.
Medical and diagnostic errors disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
