Aug. 18, 2026
Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center (KOSC) has received the 2026 Full Transparency Badge from The Leapfrog Group, recognizing surgical facilities committed to comprehensive public reporting of their safety, ethics and quality practices. KOSC is the only ambulatory surgery center in Knoxville to receive the accolade.
The Full Transparency Badge is a new 2026 recognition from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that sets standards for healthcare safety and quality. The badge recognizes hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that submit comprehensive information about safety, ethics and accountability through the watchdog organization’s survey.
“Our patient-centered approach means a commitment to transparency that assures patients that their safety and recovery are our priority,” said Douglas N. Calhoun, M.D., hand surgeon and medical director of KOSC. “The Full Transparency Badge reflects our willingness to openly share our protocols and dedication to continuous improvement. We appreciate The Leapfrog Group’s recognition of our commitment.”
The Leapfrog ASC Survey 2.0 is a redesigned instrument introduced in 2026 to evaluate safety and quality practices at ambulatory surgery centers. It addresses areas including billing ethics, health care equity, informed consent, infection surveillance, hand hygiene, culture of safety, patient to provider ratios and facility volume for select procedures.
“Transparency is one of the most powerful drivers of change in health care,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “KOSC’s commitment to completing the full ASC Survey demonstrates its willingness to be open about its safety and to give the community meaningful information when making decisions about their care.”
KOSC also has been named a Leapfrog “Top Ambulatory Surgery Center” for five consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to patient safety and quality. The facility is one of just 37 surgery centers nationwide to earn the competitive award and the only recipient in the Knoxville area.
KOSC is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). KOSC is a dedicated orthopaedic surgery center in West Knoxville offering specialized treatment by Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic providers in a convenient and supportive environment. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit organization celebrating 25 years of driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. Among its initiatives, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade was launched in 2012 and assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. It is fully transparent and free to the public, and grades are updated biannually in the fall and in the spring. To look up your hospital’s Safety Grade, please visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. For more from Leapfrog, follow them on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for their newsletter.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more than 520,000 patient visits annually at 11 East Tennessee locations. As a network of convenient and accessible clinics that provide exceptional orthopaedic care across the region, KOC comprises nine office locations; two ambulatory surgery centers; and additional services including urgent care, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical and occupational therapy and sports medicine outreach. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 1,000 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and a patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network recently earned a 2025 “Top Workplace” ranking from Knoxville News Sentinel based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
