Where nurses lead the conversation, patients notice.
Sixty-three hospitals across 25 states have earned five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in four patient experience measures at once: nurse communication, physician communication, cleanliness, and quietness.
The list was compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review, which identified the hospitals that appeared on all four of its separate five-star rankings.
Why Nurse Communication Matters
Of the four measures, nurse communication speaks most directly to the profession. It reflects how patients describe their nurses: whether nurses treated them with courtesy and respect, listened carefully, and explained things in a way they could understand.
These moments happen at every bedside, on every shift. They shape how safe patients feel, how well they understand their care, and how prepared they are to go home. A five-star rating in this area is a recognition of nursing teams who make clear, compassionate communication a standard of practice.
Excellence Beyond the Largest Systems
The 2026 list is notable for who is on it. Many of the honored hospitals serve smaller communities, and the list also includes four VA medical centers, a U.S. Air Force medical group, and several specialty and surgical hospitals.
Wisconsin leads with eight hospitals, followed by West Virginia with six and Nebraska with five. Ochsner Health and Valley Health are the only health systems with two hospitals each.
The Nurses Magazine® congratulates the nurses, physicians, and staff at each of these hospitals for the experience they deliver to every patient they serve.
The Full List: 63 Hospitals by State
Alabama
- Fayette Medical Center
- North Baldwin Infirmary (Bay Minette)
Arkansas
- Fayetteville VA Medical Center
- Howard Memorial Hospital (Nashville)
Georgia
- AdventHealth Murray (Chatsworth)
- Morgan Medical Center (Madison)
- Southeastern Regional Medical Center (Newnan)
Idaho
- Boise VA Medical Center
Illinois
- Memorial Hospital (Carthage)
- Midwest Medical Center (Galena)
- Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Zion)
Iowa
- Compass Memorial Healthcare (Marengo)
- Van Diest Medical Center (Webster City)
Kansas
- Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems (Beloit)
- Republic County Hospital (Belleville)
Kentucky
- Harrison Memorial Hospital (Cynthiana)
- Monroe County Medical Center (Tompkinsville)
Louisiana
- Abbeville General Hospital
- Citizens Medical Center (Columbia)
- Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital (Raceland)
- Ochsner St. Martin Hospital (Breaux Bridge)
Massachusetts
- North Adams Regional Hospital
Minnesota
- Glacial Ridge Hospital (Glenwood)
- Mayo Clinic Health System-Waseca
- St. Joseph’s Area Health Services (Park Rapids)
Mississippi
- 81st Medical Group (Keesler Air Force Base)
- Tishomingo Health Services (Iuka)
Missouri
- Cox Monett Hospital
Nebraska
- Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital (O’Neill)
- Boone County Health Center (Albion)
- Community Medical Center (Falls City)
- Phelps Memorial Health Center (Holdrege)
- Thayer County Health Services (Hebron)
North Dakota
- Fargo VA Medical Center
Ohio
- Kettering Health Troy
- Mercy Health-Defiance Hospital
- Surgical Hospital at Southwoods (Youngstown)
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Heart Hospital (Oklahoma City)
- Tulsa Spine and Specialty Hospital
Oregon
- Peace Harbor Medical Center (Florence)
Pennsylvania
- Advanced Surgical Hospital (Washington)
- Lehigh Valley Hospital-Macungie
South Dakota
- Sioux Falls VA Medical Center
Tennessee
- Unity Medical Center (Manchester)
- West Tennessee Healthcare Milan Hospital
Texas
- UT Health East Texas Pittsburg Hospital
Virginia
- Carilion Giles Community Hospital (Pearisburg)
- LewisGale Hospital Pulaski
- Page Memorial Hospital (Luray)
West Virginia
- CAMC Plateau Medical Center (Oak Hill)
- Hampshire Memorial Hospital (Romney)
- Jackson General Hospital (Ripley)
- Valley Health War Memorial Hospital (Berkeley Springs)
- Welch Community Hospital
- Wetzel County Hospital (New Martinsville)
Wisconsin
- Flambeau Hospital (Park Falls)
- Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin (Glendale)
- Southwest Health Center (Platteville)
- Stoughton Hospital
- Tomah Memorial Hospital
- Upland Hills Health (Dodgeville)
- Vernon Memorial Hospital (Viroqua)
- Westfields Hospital and Clinic (New Richmond)
A Standard Worth Sharing
Patient experience is built one interaction at a time. These 63 hospitals show that clear communication, attentive care, and a calm, clean healing environment are achievable in every setting, from rural community hospitals to specialty centers and federal facilities.
The Nurses Magazine® will continue to recognize the nurses and healthcare teams whose daily practice sets the standard for patient-centered care.
Source: Becker’s Hospital Review, “63 hospitals with a triple threat for patient satisfaction”, November 2, 2026, based on CMS star ratings. Ratings may change; current ratings for any hospital are available on the CMS Care Compare website.
