Every day, care teams at military hospitals and clinics work to keep patients safe. Clear communication and teamwork help stop mistakes. Patient safety is everyone’s job across the Military Health System.
Patient Safety Awareness Week takes place March 8–14. This year’s theme is “Teaming Up for Patient Safety.” The theme shows how teamwork helps keep patients safe and improves care.
“Patient Safety Awareness Week reminds us that safety depends on everyone,” said Dr. Johnathan Compton, Acting Chief of Patient Safety for the Defense Health Agency. “When teams work together, they provide safe care. Not only does this ensure premier care for all beneficiaries, it also helps protect the health of the force and supports readiness.”
When service members get safe care, they heal faster and return to duty sooner. Safe care also helps medical teams stay ready to provide care at home and around the world.
Military hospitals and clinics work on safety all year. Teams learn from experience and share what works. Staff members are encouraged to speak up when they see risks or concerns. Structured approaches, practical tools, and a shared language strengthen teamwork and communication. These behaviors support high reliability, help prevent harm, and improve patient care.
The MHS continues to earn strong scores in national safety reviews. These reviews look at how well hospitals protect patients from injuries, infections, and medical errors. Leaders say the results show a strong focus on safety.
Recently, 18 military hospitals earned “A” grades from the Leapfrog Group. Overall, 90% of participating Defense Health Agency hospitals earned top grades. The national average is 32%.
The 18 military hospitals that received an “A” grade for Fall 2025 are:
How does the DHA work to keep you safe? DHA has several programs to keep you safe. These programs include:
o Strengthen collaboration o Reinforce a culture of safety o Support consistent, reliable care
o Strengthen coordination o Encourage team members to speak up o Improve information exchange during patient care TeamSTEPPS® principles and tools inform many of the communication practices used in the RRC SCB. These strategies help care teams: o Build shared understanding o Reduce communication breakdowns o Support safe, reliable care for every patient
o Supports prompt resolution o Strengthens safety practices o Helps reduce the risk of preventable harm
These programs and others work together to create safer care for you at military hospitals and clinics.
Want to check your military hospital’s safety record? There are several ways to learn about your military hospital’s safety. Visit Health.mil’s Quality, Patient Safety, and Access Information page to see:
You can compare up to three hospitals at once on this page.
You can also check out reports from the https://www.jointcommission.org/. The Joint Commission is an independent organization that accredits U.S. hospitals and clinics. The Joint Commission visits every U.S. hospital every three years. During these visits, experts check safety measures. These can range from hand washing to medication storage.
The Annual Evaluation of the TRICARE Program can help you learn more about patient safety statistics and improvement efforts. As detailed in the*Fiscal Year 2024 report*, this yearly evaluation covers:
Patient safety outside military hospitals and clinics Do you have Medicare and TRICARE For Life coverage? You can check the safety ratings of your Medicare providers. You can use the Medicare Care CompareTool to compare Medicare providers and facilities by:
To learn more about how DHA ensures the safe delivery of care, check out Patient Safety.