Prime Healthcare Hospitals Named to Becker’s “100 Great Community Hospitals” List

Prime Healthcare Hospitals Named to Becker's "100 Great Community Hospitals" List

Seven Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation hospitals honored for excellence in quality, patient safety, and community impact

ONTARIO, Calif. (June 29, 2026) - Seven Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation hospitals have been named to Becker's Hospital Review's 2026 "100 Great Community Hospitals" list, recognizing their commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, access, and service to the communities they serve.

According to Becker's, its "100 Great Community Hospitals" are distinguished by their commitment to clinical excellence; accessibility; personalized, high-quality, affordable care; and improving health outcomes within the communities they serve. The Prime Healthcare hospitals recognized include Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital-Chicago, Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center-Reno, and St. Mary's General Hospital-Passaic. The Prime Healthcare Foundation hospitals recognized include Encino Hospital Medical Center, Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston, Sherman Oaks Hospital, and St. Mary's Hospital-Kankakee.

As Becker's Healthcare noted, "Becker's Great Community Hospitals list demonstrates the extraordinary care community hospitals deliver daily, often with limited resources and other real-world constraints. The 2026 list proudly celebrates the dedication, resilience and impact of community hospitals committed to providing accessible, affordable care close to home."

"Community hospitals serve an essential role in our nation's healthcare system, and we believe they are worth saving, strengthening, and investing in," said Sunny Bhatia, MD, president of Prime Healthcare. "This meaningful recognition among the nation's greatest hospitals reflects the dedication of our physicians, caregivers, teams, and the progress being made to enhance quality and expand access to care. We are honored to partner with these communities to build stronger hospitals and a healthier future for the patients who depend on them."

Together, the seven recognized hospitals reflect Prime Healthcare's national commitment to preserving access to care, investing in clinical quality, and strengthening hospitals that serve as vital resources for patients and families. Three of the seven hospitals recognized are in Illinois, where Prime Healthcare recently expanded its presence to nine hospitals following unanimous approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board and recognition of Prime's nationally proven record of revitalizing struggling hospitals, honoring commitments to local communities, and investing in expanded services and access to care.

Board Member David Fox stated, "I was impressed by the fact that you had already acquired 45-plus hospitals around America, all of them in highly distressed condition. And you've been able to maintain and improve their performance over the years. You really do seem to be fulfilling the promises that you made to us back in 2024."

Highlights from Becker's Recognition

Becker's Healthcare highlighted distinctions for each hospital that place them among the nation's greatest community hospitals.

Prime Healthcare Hospitals

• Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Ranked No. 1 in Illinois for health equity and among the top five hospitals in the state for social responsibility by the Lown Institute Hospitals Index
  • Recognized among the nation's top 20 hospitals for social responsibility
  • Opened an obstetrics-focused emergency department and earned Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians
  • Expanded specialized services for older adults, including programs addressing mental health needs

• Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center (Reno, NV)
  • Only hospital in Nevada to earn the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 10 consecutive years
  • Earned four consecutive "A" grades from The Leapfrog Group
  • Earned "A" grades from the Lown Institute Hospitals Index for health equity, patient outcomes, and value of care
  • Recognized with numerous High Performing accolades from U.S. News & World Report

• St. Mary's General Hospital (Passaic, NJ)
  • Earned the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award
  • Earned 10 consecutive "A" grades from The Leapfrog Group for patient safety
  • Named High Performing in heart failure care by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026

Prime Healthcare Foundation Hospitals

• Encino Hospital Medical Center (Encino, Calif.)
  • Nine-year five-star recipient for hip fracture treatment from Healthgrades
  • Ranked among the top 5% nationally for patient safety
  • Earned six "A" grades from the Lown Institute, including recognition as one of the top five hospitals in California for pay equity
  • Recognized with "Gold Plus" ratings for heart failure care and stroke care by the American Heart Association

• Saint Francis Hospital (Evanston, Ill.)
  • Achieved ANCC Magnet Recognition with Distinction, one of the highest honors in nursing excellence and patient care
  • Ranked No. 1 in the nation for pay equity by the Lown Institute Hospitals Index
  • Earned "A" grades from the Lown Institute for social responsibility, patient safety, health equity, community benefit, and inclusivity
  • Received the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award

• Sherman Oaks Hospital (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
  • Earned the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 13 consecutive years
  • Ranked among the top 5% in the nation for patient safety
  • Received five "A" grades from the Lown Institute, including for value of care, outcomes, and pay equity
  • Nationally recognized for wound care and stroke services

• St. Mary's Hospital (Kankakee, Ill.)
  • Earned four consecutive "A" grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group
  • Received the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award
  • Named to Forbes' "Top Hospitals" list
  • Prime Healthcare Foundation's immediate contribution of $50,000 to the United Way of Kankakee Emergency Relief Fund to support local families in need demonstrated its commitment to the community

According to Becker's, the greatest community hospitals are chosen for their ability to offer accessible, affordable, and high-quality care to patients. Becker's Healthcare developed the list based on nominations and editorial research, and organizations cannot pay for inclusion.

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