Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center received the Top Teaching Hospital award and Temecula Valley Hospital received its first Top General Hospital award from the Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization that evaluates hospital performance by U.S. standards of quality and safety. In California, only 23 Teaching or General Hospitals were recognized on the Top Hospital list.

“The Top Hospital award highlights American hospitals that are providing the highest quality of care to their patients,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

Kaiser Fontana was one of 36 Top Teaching Hospitals nationwide. Teaching Hospitals are those with a documented affiliation agreement with a medical school or participate in a number of approved, active residency programs. Temecula Valley Hospital was recognized among 45 hospitals in the nation to receive the Top General Hospital Award, with only six in California earning the distinction. To qualify for the award, hospitals were evaluated in several areas including infection rates and the ability to prevent medication errors. Nearly 1,900 hospitals nationwide were considered for the award.