Carthage, Texas (December 15, 2025) — Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, UT Health Carthage was named a Top Rural Hospital by The Leapfrog Group.
This award is one of the most competitive honors hospitals and surgery centers in the United States can receive for their commitment to safety and quality. The winning facilities will be presented with their awards today as part of Leapfrog’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner.
“We are extremely honored to be recognized as a Leapfrog Top Rural Hospital for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our team to deliver exceptional care to the communities we serve,” said UT Health Carthage CEO Jared Smith. “Every team member plays a vital role in prioritizing patient safety, quality and innovation, and this recognition affirms their hard work and dedication. We remain fully committed to upholding the highest standards of care for our patients and their families.”
Over 2,400 hospitals were considered for the award. Among those, UT Health Carthage received a Top Rural distinction. A total of 156 Top Hospitals were selected, including:
- 15 Top Children’s
- 52 Top General
- 16 Top Rural
- 73 Top Teaching
The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit watchdog organization that rates hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers on how well they protect patients from preventable harm, including accidents, injuries and infections. The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is given to teaching, general, rural and children’s hospitals that publicly report their performance through the Leapfrog Hospital Survey and meet the high standards defined in the Top Hospitals methodology. This includes infection rates, maternity care and a hospital’s ability to prevent medication errors, among other standards.
“UT Health Carthage has distinguished itself through an unwavering focus on safety and quality, earning a place on this year’s list of Top Hospitals,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This recognition reflects a culture of transparency and continuous improvement — one embraced by every member of the organization. We commend the entire team at UT Health Carthage for reaching this outstanding milestone.”