Hospital for Special Surgery announced on May 12 that it has been named a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades. The award recognizes hospitals that deliver high-quality care and ensure a positive patient experience, placing Hospital for Special Surgery among the top 15% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience for the third year in a row.
This recognition highlights the importance of prioritizing patients’ perspectives in healthcare settings. Healthgrades evaluates hospitals using data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, focusing on ten key measures such as room cleanliness and clarity of care explanations to identify those with outstanding patient experiences.
“Better patient experiences are correlated with better health outcomes, which is why patients should always strive to seek care at a facility with a clear dedication to high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “As an Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient, HSS sets the benchmark for patient experience nationwide, ensuring that every patient feels heard, empowered, and confident throughout the care journey.”
According to Healthgrades’ analysis, doctor communication, nurse communication, and clear discharge instructions are three factors most likely to influence whether patients would recommend a hospital to others. For its annual review leading up to this award cycle, Healthgrades assessed more than 3,000 hospitals submitting at least 100 surveys each during admissions from January through December 2024; facilities ranking in the bottom fifth for overall clinical quality were excluded from consideration.
The Hospital for Special Surgery contributes to community health by providing specialized orthopedic care and advancing musculoskeletal research; it has achieved consistent top rankings in orthopedics and holds multiple Magnet designations for nursing excellence according to its official website. The organization focuses on enhancing mobility and life quality while extending specialized services through partnerships in regions including Southwest Florida.
