Riverwood Healthcare Center announced today that it has been named a 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ recipient by Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital. This achievement reflects Riverwood’s commitment to superior, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 15% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience. Riverwood is the only hospital in Northeast Minnesota to achieve the award for 2 years in a row.
“This is a prestigious honor that reflects the high level of care and compassion our staff delivers to patients every day,” said Ken Westman, Riverwood Healthcare Center CEO. “Being named among the top 15% of hospitals nationwide two years in a row for patient experience is a direct result of our team’s unwavering dedication to putting patients first. From the moment someone walks through our doors to the follow-up after a visit or hospital stay, we are focused on delivering care that is not only clinically excellent but also deeply personal. With a strong culture of teamwork, respect, and empathy, we strive to create an environment where every patient feels seen, heard, and valued.“
About the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award
Each year, Healthgrades recognizes the top hospitals nationwide that provide an exceptional experience for patients during their hospital stay. For its 2026 analysis, Healthgrades evaluated Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey data from nearly 4,000 hospitals across 10 patient experience measures.*
These measures focus on patients’ perceptions of their hospital care, including staff communication, medication explanations, and cleanliness. Riverwood’s Outstanding Patient Experience Award is the direct result of positive patient feedback in these critical areas.
“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, Riverwood Healthcare Center sets the benchmark for patient experience nationwide, ensuring that every patient feels heard, empowered, and confident throughout the care journey.”
Consumers can visit healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and view the Outstanding Patient Experience Award Methodology. A patient-friendly overview of Healthgrades’ complete methodology is also available here.
*Healthgrades evaluated 3,020 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from January 2024 to December 2024. Hospitals in the bottom 20% for overall clinical quality were excluded from consideration.