Some hospitals are worse than others, for lots of reasons — everything from timely treatment to the quality of the medical staff and the efficient use of technology and resources can play a role, as can whether the patients are insured or get poor or no primary care. The quality of care in a hospital is reflected, among other things, in lower readmission and death rates. And in some areas, patients would be well advised to find a way to go elsewhere.

Patient safety watchdog Leapfrog Group rates hospitals A through F, relying on a range of expert-determined and government-set standards. Some of those standards include the tracking of prescriptions, adequate ICU physician staff, and maternity care best practices. Leapfrog Group's most recent assessment found that, compared to A-rated hospitals, the risk of avoidable death is 35 percent higher in C hospitals and 50 percent higher in D and F hospitals. The average grade of hospitals in all of the 10 worst cities is C or worse.

While many repeat visits to hospitals might be unavoidable — nationally, 15.7 percent of discharged hospital patients are back within 30 days for such problems as post-surgical infections, untreated blood clots and other unplanned complications — others could be avoided if patients were covered, or better covered, by insurance or if they received better care outside the hospital.

And controlling for risk factors such as age, past medical history and other conditions that increase the chances of dying or of readmission, experts have found that external socioeconomic factors — such as high poverty in an area — are the ones that largely explain/affect hospital quality and therefore patient outcomes.

Here are the 10 cities 24/7 Wall St. found that are best to be avoided:

The top 10 employers in Visalia, Calif., include two medical centers: Kaweah Delta Medical Center and Visalia Medical Center. The former received a top grading from Leapfrog, but other medical institutions in the city didn't do as well. (Photo: iStock)

10. Visalia-Porterville, California

Readmission rate: 15.6 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 15.1 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 51.9 per 1,000 patients.

This is one city where averages don't hold true, since Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia received an A from Leapfrog but Tulare Regional Medical Center in Tulare received an F. Also, unlike other metropolitan areas with relatively low-rated hospitals, mortality rates among area patients admitted for heart attacks and coronary artery bypass surgery are well below the nationwide average rates, at 12.9 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

For stroke and pneumonia patients, on the other hand, the likelihood of dying after hospitalization is considerably greater than it is in most metro areas. And poverty probably plays a strong hand in that: The Visalia area's poverty rate, 28.6 percent, is the fifth highest rate of all U.S. metro areas.

The Yakima Valley in Washington is known for its apple, wine and hop production, but based on its ratings for hospitals, it seems doubtful that an apple a day will keep the doctor away in this northwestern city. (Photo: iStock)

9. Yakima, Washington

Readmission rate: 15.4 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 14.8 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 47.6 per 1,000 patients

Despite the fact that the Yakima area's preventable hospitalizations rate of 47.6 per 1,000 patients is below the national figure — and that with a relatively high uninsured rate of 16 percent — Yakima's mortality rates for heart conditions and procedures such as stroke and coronary artery bypass surgery are well above the corresponding nationwide rates.

The 18.2 percent of pneumonia patients and 10.1 percent of whooping cough patients who die within 30 days after hospitalization are also well above the corresponding national rates.

Paula Deen, one of Albany, Georgia's notable natives, has publically discussed her health problems, such as Type 2 diabetes, and come under fire for unhealthy recipes. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/AP Photo)

8. Albany, Georgia

Readmission rate: 16.4 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 14.8 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 61.4 per 1,000 patients.

While Leapfrog Group grades hospitals A through F for the quality of treatment of injuries and how well they prevent medical errors, it rated only one of Albany's two hospitals, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital — and only gave it a C.

The area has relatively high readmission and mortality rates, making it a good place to avoid. In addition, for every 1,000 hospitalizations in the area, 61.4 are unnecessary; that's considerably higher than the national average rate of 54. The high rate is likely in part because of poor primary care as well as low health insurance coverage. Nearly 18 percent of Albany area residents do not have health insurance, considerably higher than the national rate of 11.7 percent.

For Altoona, Pa., the top job driver is health care. UPMC Altoona employs thousands, but its poor ratings might make residents think twice about checking in. (Photo: iStock)

7. Altoona, Pennsylvania

Readmission rate: 15.3 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 15.1 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 57.7 per 1,000 patients.

Not only are Altoona's hospitals the worst in the state, they're among the worst in the country, based on several measures. Among hospital admissions, 15.1 percent of patients die within 30 days; that's higher than in all but 16 other U.S. metros.

The area's high mortality rate is largely driven by an especially high pneumonia mortality rate, with nearly 20 percent of those admitted for pneumonia in Altoona dying within 30 days. And the UPMC Altoona hospital got poor grades for outdated prescription practices, poor communication about medicines, and avoidable infections.

Elmira, N.Y., made another list on BenefitsPRO — it rates No. 8 on the list of cheapest housing markets. That said, the city still doesn't rank high on preventing deaths related to whooping cough. (Photo: iStock)    

6. Elmira, New York

Readmission rate: 16.4 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 12.7 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: D.

Preventable hospitalizations: 90.6 per 1,000 patients.

Mortality rates from heart- and lung-related diseases are generally high in the 10 worst cities, but in Elmira hospitals the 13.9 percent death rate among patients admitted for pneumonia is among the lowest in the nation.

But the mortality rates for other respiratory conditions, such as whooping cough, and for heart-related ailments, such as stroke, are all above average. In addition, for every 1,000 hospitalizations in the area, 91 could have been prevented — and that's almost the highest preventable hospitalization rate in the country.

The list of top employers in Yuba City, Calif., includes Freemont Medical Center, known for having the lowest ICU score in the country, according to the Leapfrog Group. (Photo: iStock)

5. Yuba City, California

Readmission rate: 15.5 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 14.2 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: D.

Preventable hospitalizations: 53.3 per 1,000 patients.

Yuba City metro area hospital patients have a higher likelihood of dying from heart-related ailments and procedures such as stroke, coronary artery bypass surgery and heart failure, as well as from whooping cough and pneumonia, than Americans nationwide.

And despite the fact that the level of preventable hospitalizations in Yuba City of 53.3 per 1,000 patients is lower than the national rate, the Leapfrog Group still rated gave hospitals a D, nearly the lowest grade possible. The Fremont Medical Center received the worst score in the country for its intensive care unit.

Clarksville Memorial Hospital in Tennessee was founded in 1954. (Photo: iStock)

4. Clarksville, Tennessee-Kentucky

Readmission rate: 15.9 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 15.3 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 76.6 per 1,000 patients.

The 15.3 percent of people who die within 30 days of being admitted to a Clarksville-area hospital is nearly the highest in the country — partly because of the high death rate among patients admitted for pneumonia. More than 20 percent of patients admitted for pneumonia at area hospitals die within 30 days, a higher rate than in all but six other U.S. metros.

In addition, Clarksville has one of the highest preventable hospitalization rates in the country. For every 1,000 hospital patients, 76.6 could have been treated in an outpatient facility.

El Centro, Calif., known for its farming plots of carrots and lettuce, is surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland with a crop production of over $1 billion. However, it's estimated that farmers harvest lettuce for only $8 to $10 per hour. (Photo: iStock)

3. El Centro, California

Readmission rate: 16.4 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 13.8 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: D.

Preventable hospitalizations: 48.1 per 1,000 patients.

Leapfrog Group rated El Centro's hospitals very poorly, and other traditional measures of quality of area hospitals, such as the readmission rate, are also relatively poor. However, 12.2 percent of patients admitted to hospitals in the area for stroke die within 30 days, one of the lowest mortality rates for stroke patients nationwide.

Still, poverty probably plays a large part in El Centro's dismal ratings, because the worst-rated metropolitan hospital systems tend to serve relatively poor populations. Its poverty rate of 23.7 percent is the 19th highest of all U.S. metro areas.

In Binghamton, N.Y., more than 33 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. (Photo: iStock)

2. Binghamton, New York

Readmission rate: 15.5 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 15.2 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 60.4 per 1,000 patients.

Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital and the UnitedHealth Services Hospital network, which serve the Binghamton metro area, report some of the nation's highest preventable hospitalization rates, as well as among the highest mortality rates for common fatal ailments.

For example, among patients admitted for coronary artery bypass surgery — one of the most common major operations — 6.4 percent die within 30 days, the highest such mortality rate of any metro area. After evaluating the patient experience at Our Lady of Lourdes, the Leapfrog Group gave the hospital a D.

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas and the nearby same-name city has a booming tourism industry thanks to its historical sites (including former President Bill Clinton's childhood home). Just don't visit the area hospitals when checking out the town. (Photo: iStock)

1. Hot Springs, Arkansas

Readmission rate: 16.2 percent.

Average 30-day mortality rate: 15.6 percent.

Hospital safety score grade: C.

Preventable hospitalizations: 68.0 per 1,000 patients.

Two hospitals in the Hot Springs metro area, National Park Medical Center and St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center, got Cs for overall patient safety from Leapfrog Group. And in addition to a range of other problems, both hospitals were below average in preventing infections — one major cause of unplanned readmissions to hospitals.

In addition, the readmission rate of 16.2 percent is among the higher rates among U.S. metro areas. The mortality rate in area care facilities is also far higher than typical, particularly among patients with heart problems. Of those patients admitted for heart failure, 16 percent die within 30 days of admission, the second highest heart failure mortality rate of any metro area in the country.