Insurance Insights Today

Top U.S. hospitals are recognized for delivering exceptional medical care and patient service, according to the 2025 America’s Best Hospitals Awards. Healthgrades, a medical search service, evaluated the clinical performance of approximately 4,500 hospitals based on more than 30 common procedures and conditions.

However, the findings highlight a significant gap in access to top-performing hospitals for many Americans. The study estimates that if all hospitals performed at the level of the top 250, approximately 174,081 lives could be saved. Yet, nearly half of the U.S. population—47%—resides more than 25 miles from one of these high-performing hospitals, with major gaps extending across metropolitan areas and entire states. Notably, 15 states lack a hospital ranked in the top 5%, affecting 37 million people who may struggle to access high-quality care.

Even when considering a broader range of top hospitals, nearly one-third of patients still face travel burdens when seeking treatment from facilities ranked in the top 20%. Rural communities in the Midwest and Mountain West—including Idaho, Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma—are among the most affected.

According to Healthgrades, proximity to a local hospital is no longer sufficient; instead, patients need access to facilities recognized for their high-quality care to achieve the best health outcomes. This challenge extends beyond rural areas, as residents in cities like Birmingham, Tucson, and Little Rock often travel over 100 miles for top-tier care. However, some cities still offer specialized medical excellence in specific areas. For example, Pittsburgh is a leader in both cardiac care at Allegheny General Hospital and joint replacement at Advanced Surgical Hospital.

Dr. Brad Bowman, chief medical officer and head of data science for Healthgrades, emphasizes the importance of informed healthcare decisions. He hopes the research will help patients better understand hospital quality and make confident choices when selecting medical care, regardless of their location.

Nearly half of Americans lack access to one of nation’s 250 top-performing hospitals