Healthgrades has named 373 hospitals across 46 states as recipients of its 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Awards, placing each of them in the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience, according to Healthline.
Texas claimed the most winners of any state, with 31 hospitals recognized. Wisconsin followed with 28, Pennsylvania with 25, and California and Ohio each with 23.
The awards are determined through analysis of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey data, known as HCAHPS, which is collected from patients and submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Hospitals were required to submit at least 100 completed surveys to be considered. Healthgrades evaluated facilities across 10 patient experience measures to identify those with the highest overall scores.
Among the recognized hospitals, 80 earned dual recognition by receiving both the Outstanding Patient Experience Award and the Patient Safety Excellence Award. A smaller group of 16 hospitals took home triple honors, adding the America's Best Hospitals distinction to the other two.
The survey data covers several dimensions of the hospital stay, including communication with doctors and nurses, staff responsiveness, discharge information, room cleanliness, and hospital quietness. Of those categories, doctor communication, nurse communication, and clear discharge communication were most strongly associated with whether patients said they would recommend a hospital to friends and family.
Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades, described what the award is meant to capture. "Better patient experiences are correlated with better health outcomes, which is why patients should always consider patient experience during the care search," she said in a press release.
Biggers also addressed what the recognition signals about the winning facilities. "Healthgrades' Outstanding Patient Experience Award recognizes hospitals that prioritize high-quality, patient-centered care and ensure that patients feel heard, empowered, and confident throughout the care journey," she said.
Healthgrades noted that its findings point to the role communication and patient-centered care play in shaping how patients perceive their time in a hospital. The organization added that rankings like these can also help patients make more informed decisions when choosing where to receive care.
