U.S. Naval Hospital Naples is one of only two military medical facilities in Europe recognized by an American watchdog group for quality care. Leapfrog awarded it a top hospital designation for 2025. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)

NAPLES, Italy — Two Navy hospitals in Italy are the only American military medical facilities in Europe recently named top hospitals for quality care and safety as part of an American watchdog group’s annual accolades.  

U.S. Naval Hospital Naples and U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella in Sicily were among 11 American military medical facilities worldwide that earned the top hospital designation from the Leapfrog Group for 2025, according to the nonprofit’s website.

The recognition reflects the professionalism, dedication and teamwork of the Naval Support Activity Naples hospital staff, Capt. Raynese Roberts, the hospital’s commanding officer, said in a statement last month.

“Achieving this level of excellence requires constant focus on patient safety, clinical quality, and continuous improvement across every department,” Roberts said.

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella was among 11 American military medical facilities worldwide that earned the Leapfrog Group's top hospital designation for 2025. (U.S. Navy)

The award recognizes teaching, general and children’s hospitals across the U.S. with better systems in place to prevent medication errors, among other important attributes.

For example, those medical facilities also have higher quality maternity care, lower infection rates and better informed consent practices, the group said.  

Other military hospitals earning the nod include the 51st Medical Group at Osan Air Base in South Korea, Bassett Army Community Hospital in Alaska and Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in California, according to Leapfrog.

For 2025, 156 U.S. hospitals received the top hospital designation, a 16% increase over the previous year, Leapfrog said in a Dec. 15 statement.

Leapfrog works to improve safety, quality and affordability of health care in the U.S. through transparency, according to its website.

The top hospital award capped a series of important accreditations received by Naval Hospital Naples in recent months.

The facility also recently successfully completed accreditation by the Joint Commission under the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals as well as accreditation of its behavioral health program, among other achievements and certifications, the hospital said.