Iowa's Top-Rated Hospitals: Where To Go For Excellent Care

what is the best hospital in iowa

Iowa is home to several top-ranking hospitals in the United States. The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center was ranked the best hospital in Iowa by U.S. News & World Report in 2024-25 and was recognized in eight specialties. UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Hospital was ranked the best hospital in Iowa by Newsweek in 2025. Newsweek's rankings were determined using quality metrics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).

Characteristics Values
Best Hospital in Iowa University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center
Ranking Ranked #1 in Iowa and in the top 50 hospitals in the US for three specialties
Ranking Publisher U.S. News & World Report
Ranking Criteria Patient outcomes, quality of experience, and hospital staffing
Recognition National recognition in eight specialties
Other Hospitals Mentioned UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center, UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital, MercyOne Des Moines

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University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center was ranked the best hospital in Iowa in the 2024–25 "Best Hospitals" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital was recognised nationally in eight specialties, with three specialties ranked in the top 50 hospitals in the country. Five of the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center's specialties were designated as "High-Performing", placing them in the top 10% of hospitals across the United States. Denise Jamieson, UI vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the Carver College of Medicine, attributed the recognition to the "compassionate, high-quality care" provided by the hospital's teams.

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center is a university-based system that combines research and education with the care it provides. This approach has led to advancements in the understanding and treatment of diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The hospital's commitment to research and education ensures that Iowans have access to a widely recognised and nationally respected academic health system.

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center's ranking as the top hospital in Iowa reflects its dedication to providing compassionate and advanced healthcare to the community. The hospital's performance in various specialties, including its high-performing areas, showcases its comprehensive approach to patient care.

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center is located at 500 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. The hospital can be contacted via phone at 319-339-3526 or email at [email protected].

While the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center was ranked the top hospital in Iowa in the 2024-25 rankings, it is worth noting that UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital was named the best hospital in Iowa by Newsweek for 2025. This recognition was based on quality metrics from various sources, including patient experience surveys and the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals Database.

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UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital

UnityPoint Health, a network of non-profit and community hospitals and healthcare facilities across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, has been recognised by Newsweek as the best hospital in Iowa. UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Hospital, in particular, has been ranked as the number one hospital in Iowa by Newsweek in its 2025 list of "America's Best in State Hospital's". This is the seventh time St. Luke's Hospital has been named to Newsweek's Best Hospitals list and the first time it has secured the top spot in Iowa.

St. Luke's Hospital is one of the largest mental health providers in Iowa. It offers a full continuum of mental health services and treatment options, including couple, family, and group counselling, and inpatient and outpatient services. St. Luke's Partial Hospitalization program provides day services for patients with emotional difficulties and/or mental illnesses, helping them transition from the hospital back to their homes and communities. The hospital also has three inpatient mental health units dedicated to treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

St. Luke's Children's Specialty Services provides several programs for children and teens to help them cope with mental, emotional, and behavioural concerns they may be experiencing at home, at school, or in their community. The hospital also offers a visiting nurse program that allows individuals with emotional problems and/or mental illnesses to live successfully within the community with the help of home and/or community-based visitation by qualified nursing staff.

In addition to its mental health services, St. Luke's Hospital also provides a range of medical services, including nursing, medical physician, podiatry, and physical and occupational therapy. The hospital is committed to providing safe, quality care to its community, which has been reflected in its national recognition and awards.

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Iowa Methodist Medical Center

The hospital is known for its advanced cardiac care, with a team of experts performing hundreds of open-heart surgeries and other critical procedures to address valvular and coronary diseases each year. Notably, in 1956, Iowa Methodist performed the first open-heart procedure outside of the Mayo Clinic, marking a significant milestone in the state's medical history.

Iowa Methodist is also a leader in cancer care, with the John Stoddard Cancer Center recognised throughout the Midwest. The centre offers comprehensive cancer treatment, including advanced therapies, radiation oncology, and personalised support services. In addition, the hospital is one of two Level I Trauma Centres in Iowa, ensuring rapid and expert emergency care for adults and children.

The Maternity Centre at Iowa Methodist is another area of excellence, providing new mothers with a comfortable and comprehensive birthing experience. The hospital welcomes more newborns than any other medical facility in Iowa, emphasising their expertise in this field. Moreover, the Blank Children's Hospital within Iowa Methodist offers dedicated paediatric intensive and neonatal intensive care, reflecting their commitment to family-centred care.

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Ophthalmology, oncology, and ENT

For ophthalmology in Iowa, the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City is nationally ranked in four adult specialties and nine pediatric specialties. The University of Iowa Health Care is also a good option for ENT services. The hospital's otolaryngology department treats a broad range of conditions, including tonsillitis, sinus infections, and rare types of head and neck cancer. The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is also one of the country's oldest cochlear implant programs, performing many historic "firsts", including the first multichannel cochlear implant in the US in 1983. The Iowa ENT Center is another clinic that is well-regarded for its ENT services, especially for pediatrics.

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City is also a good option for oncology, as it is nationally ranked in three adult specialties and nine pediatric specialties. Mission Cancer + Blood is another option for oncology services in Iowa. They have more than 20 community cancer clinics across Iowa that are backed by UI Health Care's National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, bringing advanced oncology care closer to home for many Iowans.

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Patient experience scores

Patient experience is a key factor in determining the best hospitals in Iowa. U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" rankings include patient outcomes and other factors that matter to patients, such as the quality of their experience and hospital staffing.

UI Hospitals and Clinics and the Iowa Methodist Medical Center have a patient experience score of three out of five stars on U.S. News' website, according to post-discharge patient surveys. MercyOne Des Moines, on the other hand, has a score of two out of five stars.

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital, which was named the best hospital in Iowa by Newsweek, also considers patient experience surveys in its ranking methodology. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient experience surveys are used to gather patient feedback on their experiences with healthcare providers and hospitals.

Newsweek's ranking methodology also includes peer recommendations, patient experience, hospital quality metrics, and PROMs implementation. Participants are asked to rate hospitals on quality of care, staffing, patient counseling, and accommodation and amenities. Publicly available data from hospital surveys of patient experience covers topics such as cleanliness, communication with nurses and doctors, care transition, discharge information, and staff responsiveness. Hospitals with outstanding performance in patient experience and safety measures are recognized with a patient satisfaction award.

Frequently asked questions

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital is the number one hospital in Iowa according to the 2025 Newsweek/Statista “America’s Best in State Hospital’s” list.

The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, and MercyOne Des Moines are also top hospitals in Iowa.

Hospitals are evaluated in 22 benchmark procedures and conditions, including knee replacement, heart bypass surgery, and gynecological cancer surgery. They are also assessed based on patient outcomes, quality of experience, and whether the hospital is adequately staffed.

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