The 374th Medical Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, shown here Jan. 23, 2026, is one of 13 military medical facilities recently named top health providers by The Leapfrog Group. (Marc Castaneda/Stars and Stripes)
Twelve hospitals and one clinic on U.S. military bases worldwide have earned top designations from The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that evaluates health care quality on behalf of consumers and businesses.
All told, 156 medical facilities were named Top Hospitals in 2025, Leapfrog announced last month. The 13 military facilities recognized represent a record number for the annual list, according to a Dec. 18 news release from the Defense Health Agency.
A Leapfrog designation “says to other facilities that we worked hard to meet standards to prevent errors, infections or accidents to our patients,” said Air Force Maj. Katerina Loeffler, officer in charge of the 51st Medical Group’s operating room at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
“So, we’re meeting a higher level of patient care by putting in effort to attain” Leapfrog status, Loeffler said in a video posted Wednesday on the base’s Facebook page.
Of the 12 military hospitals recognized, two are in South Korea, two are in Italy and one is in Japan. The remaining hospitals are across the United States, from Alaska to California to South Carolina. Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point in North Carolina was named a Top Ambulatory Surgery Center.
All but two military hospitals earned recognition in the general category. Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital at Fort Polk, La., and Gen. Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., were designated Rural Top Hospitals.
Fewer than 6% of hospitals nationwide receive Top Hospital status each year, according to DHA’s release.
Reception area oatf Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Jan. 22, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
The Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Jan. 22, 2026 (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
In Europe, U.S. Naval Hospital Naples and U.S Naval Hospital Sigonella, both in Italy, earned Top Hospital designations. In the Indo-Pacific, the 374th Medical Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, also made the list.
“What really sets our hospital apart is that quality care comes first and the Leapfrog score follows,” said U.S. Army Col. Chad Black, director of the Allgood hospital and commander of the 549th Hospital Center and Medical Department Activity – Korea.
“From double checking medications to careful prep for surgery and childbirth, our teams focus on doing the right thing for patients every time — and Leapfrog simply reflects that,” Black said Friday in an email from hospital spokeswoman Jean Han.
Leapfrog evaluates hospitals using safety and quality measures that include medication safety, maternity care and infection prevention. Hospitals must earn “A” grades on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade to quality for Top Hospital status.
