The Detroit Medical Center (DMC), once a leader in hospital care, now faces serious questions about patient safety. Both Sinai-Grace and Detroit Receiving Hospital dropped from a “D” to an “F” safety grade.

This sharp decline highlights a troubling failure to protect patients from preventable harm and medical errors. Fewer than 1% of U.S. hospitals receive an “F” grade, making DMC’s performance among the worst in the nation.

“A culture of safety begins at the top, and I call on the leadership team at DMC to put patients at the top of their agenda,” said Bret Jackson, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance for Michigan and member of Better Solutions for Healthcare.

According to Sage Transparency, both Detroit Receiving and Sinai-Grace have received abysmal 1-star ratings in overall hospital quality and patient experience for the last 3 years.

The hospitals received poor scores for being higher risk for a variety of serious safety issues, including infections like MRSA, surgical site infections, and life-threatening conditions like sepsis. Both hospitals were flagged for high rates of patient falls, dangerous blood clots, and preventable complications that could have been avoided with better care.

DMC’s refusal to participate in The Leapfrog Group’s annual survey raises questions about transparency. Even with incomplete data, the results point to systemic failures that put patients at risk. It’s clear that DMC has a long way to go in regaining the trust of the community.

No hospital should fail to meet basic safety standards. It is time for DMC’s leadership to address these grave concerns and prioritize patient care. Better Solutions continues to advocate for policies that hold hospitals accountable for patient safety, ensuring that all hospitals, no matter their size or resources, are committed to providing the safest care possible.