Cloudy with gusty winds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 43F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph..

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.

When we’re sick or injured, the experience goes beyond the physical pain and suffering.

At those times, we’re also at our most vulnerable. At our weakest. Our shakiest. Our most frightened. Our most in doubt.

The people who love us and care for us and worry about us share the same vulnerabilities and fears and doubts.

When we reach the point where we need the services that can only be provided in a hospital, what helps get us through the experience is knowing that we’re being cared for by the most qualified people in the safest possible environment.

That’s why a new hospital safety report issued last week should be raising major alarms among the medical community and state government, after it ranked New York state hospitals 30th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia on their ability to protect patients.

The Leapfrog Group report ranks nearly 3,000 hospitals around the country twice a year on up to 30 measures to come up with a letter grade (A-F) for each acute care hospital.

The criteria cover areas related to medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections, down to the basics of medical care such as handwashing, entering prescriptions through a computer and the availability of highly trained nurses, the report states.

States are ranked by the percentage of hospitals receiving a grade of A during the Fall 2025 survey.