Discovering Hospital Rankings: A Guide To Quality Healthcare

There are several ways to find a hospital's ranking. US News ranks the best hospitals in the US by state, specialty, and more. They evaluate nearly 6,000 hospitals annually, ranking them in 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Their rankings are broken into two subcomponents: specialty rankings and procedure and condition ratings. Other online resources that rank hospitals include Healthgrades and Newsweek. Healthgrades provides profiles for doctors and healthcare providers, including patient reviews and recommendations. Newsweek's ranking methodology uses information from three data sources, including medical expert recommendations. Hospital rankings can be a useful tool for patients and their families to find sources of skilled inpatient care, but it's important to remember that medical errors can happen anywhere.

Specialty rankings

U.S. News ranks the best hospitals in the U.S. by specialty, including cancer, neurology, rheumatology, orthopedics, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and more. Each year, U.S. News ranks hospitals in 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. In 2024-2025, U.S. News Best Hospitals ranked hospitals in the U.S. in 15 adult specialties and recognized hospitals by state, metro, and regional areas for their work in 20 more widely performed procedures and conditions. Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals analyzed and 30,000 physicians surveyed, only 160 hospitals ranked in at least one of the specialties.

The Best Hospitals procedure and condition ratings focus on specific and more commonly required individual procedures and conditions, such as hip replacement and heart failure, rather than on broader specialties. The goal is to evaluate how well hospitals perform in each procedure or condition – not just with the most challenging cases, as with the specialty rankings, but with the full range of patients. Hospitals that treat enough patients to be evaluated are rated as high performing, average, or below average.

The annual Honor Roll of U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings offers guidance to parents seeking the best place for their very sick child. The top medical centers demonstrated excellence in care in 11 specialties, including pediatric cancer, pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, and pediatric orthopedics. In the 2024-2025 rankings, 88 hospitals earned a ranking in at least one of the 11 evaluated pediatric specialties.

Procedure and condition ratings

The Best Hospitals rankings are divided into two parts: specialty rankings and procedure and condition ratings. The procedure and condition ratings focus on specific and commonly required procedures and conditions, such as hip replacement and heart failure, rather than broader specialties like orthopedics and cardiology. Hospitals that treat enough patients to be evaluated are rated as high-performing, average, or below average for each procedure or condition. These ratings are based on how well hospitals perform across the full range of patients, not just the most challenging cases.

The procedure and condition ratings are relevant if you are seeking information about a specific procedure or condition that is commonly treated at many hospitals. For example, if you are seeking information about orthopaedic surgery or musculoskeletal issues, you would refer to the procedure and condition ratings for orthopaedics.

The ratings are a useful tool for patients and their families to find sources of skilled inpatient care. They are based on objective data, including survival rates for challenging patients, patient experience, and other measures of performance. In the 2024-2025 ratings, U.S. News rated more than 4,500 hospitals, with nearly 1,800 rated as high-performing in at least one procedure or condition.

It is important to note that these ratings should be considered a starting point, and any care decisions should be made in consultation with medical professionals. Additionally, depending on your health situation, it may be more practical to choose a hospital that is closer to you or within your insurance network, even if it is not rated as high-performing.

US state rankings

State rankings often consider a wide range of factors that contribute to the overall quality of healthcare. For instance, the Commonwealth Fund's 2023 Scorecard on State Health System Performance evaluates states based on 58 performance indicators, encompassing aspects such as access and affordability, prevention and treatment, and potentially avoidable hospital use. This comprehensive approach ensures that rankings reflect not only the quality of care but also the financial and social factors that influence an individual's ability to access healthcare services.

The Leapfrog Group is another notable organisation that assesses hospitals and contributes to state rankings. In spring 2025, The Leapfrog Group's evaluation highlighted the improvement in Michigan's hospitals, with 24 hospitals earning an "A" grade for patient safety. However, it also brought attention to significant patient safety concerns in Detroit, with three hospitals receiving failing grades.

While rankings provide a valuable overview, they may not capture every aspect of healthcare quality. It is essential to consider other factors, such as individual needs and preferences, when evaluating hospitals. Additionally, rankings should be interpreted with caution, as they may not always reflect the most recent developments or improvements in healthcare services.

Overall, US state rankings offer a valuable snapshot of healthcare performance and accessibility. By evaluating states based on a range of metrics and indicators, these rankings provide insights that can help identify areas for improvement, inform policy decisions, and ultimately drive improvements in healthcare delivery across the nation.

Patient recommendations

When it comes to choosing a hospital, patients should consider a multitude of factors, including their health situation, medical history, and individual needs. While rankings and ratings are useful tools, they are most effective when used in conjunction with a doctor's recommendations and personal research.

Patient survey data is a key component of hospital rankings. These surveys allow patients to rate their hospital experience, including factors such as the quality of communication with medical staff, the responsiveness of staff, the discussion of medications, facility cleanliness, and overall satisfaction. The percentage of patients who would definitely recommend a hospital is an important indicator of its quality. For example, a hospital ranking website may show that 83% of patients would recommend a particular hospital in Chicago, providing valuable insight into patient satisfaction and care.

It is important to note that hospital rankings and ratings should be approached critically. Each ranking system uses different metrics and methodologies, emphasizing specific aspects of healthcare that may or may not align with an individual's priorities. For instance, some organizations focus on readmission rates, mortality or infection rates, while others prioritize patient satisfaction or chronic disease management. Government sources, such as Medicare, CDC, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), are generally considered more rigorous and reliable than user-generated content on websites.

To make an informed decision, patients should review multiple rankings or ratings to gain a comprehensive understanding of a hospital's performance. Additionally, considering state or nationwide accreditation and quality rankings can provide further clarity. However, the volume and complexity of these lists can sometimes lead to confusion. Seeking recommendations from primary care physicians or specialists is also advisable, as they can provide personalized advice based on a patient's medical history and specific care needs.

Ultimately, patients should use hospital rankings and ratings as a starting point and consult with medical professionals to make care decisions that best suit their individual needs and circumstances.

Expert opinions

Hospital rankings are based on a variety of factors, and there are several organisations that rank hospitals. Some of the most well-known ranking systems include U.S. News & World Report, Castle Connolly, Healthgrades, Newsweek, and The Leapfrog Group. Each of these organisations uses different methodologies and metrics to evaluate hospitals, and it's important to consider multiple rankings or ratings to get a comprehensive understanding of a hospital's quality.

U.S. News & World Report is a widely recognised source for hospital rankings, offering information on approximately 4,500 hospitals across 15 adult specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Their methodology takes into account patient outcomes, adequate staffing, clinically proven tools, expert opinions from physicians, and metrics related to safety and readmissions. U.S. News also provides specialty rankings, recognising hospitals that excel in treating complex, high-risk cases across 15 specialty areas. These rankings are particularly useful for patients with rare conditions or those requiring specialised care.

Castle Connolly, another reputable source, evaluates hospitals using comprehensive data from commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance claims. They also incorporate insights from a diverse range of patients to present a holistic view of hospital performance.

Healthgrades is an online resource that provides profiles of doctors and healthcare providers. Their listings are based on information from the National Provider Identifier Registry, input from providers, and patient reviews. Users can search for hospitals in their area and access additional details about hospital quality, patient experiences, and recommendations.

Newsweek, a well-known media organisation, also ranks hospitals using a methodology that incorporates recommendations from medical experts, including doctors and healthcare professionals.

The Leapfrog Group is a notable organisation that has been promoting transparency and improvement in healthcare for over 20 years. They collect, analyse, and publish hospital data on safety and quality, making this information freely available to patients. The Leapfrog Group uses a combination of publicly available hospital safety data and self-reported survey responses to assign a patient safety score to each hospital.

While these ranking systems provide valuable insights, it's important to recognise that each system uses different metrics and methodologies, as highlighted by Karl Bilimoria, MD, an expert in hospital quality improvement. He suggests that using rankings, along with recommendations from healthcare professionals and personal research, can be a strategic approach to finding the most suitable hospital for one's healthcare needs.

Additionally, smaller, rural health systems may not always be represented in national rankings. However, state-specific programs, such as those in Wisconsin and Minnesota, provide data on primary care and chronic disease management, allowing patients to make informed decisions based on their unique needs.

Frequently asked questions