facebook tracking Hospital patient ratings by state: where patients rate their stay highest

Hospitals patients rate highest, by state

Medicare's HCAHPS survey asks recent inpatients to rate their hospital stay, and CMS turns their answers into a 1-to-5 patient star rating. We averaged the patient ratings of all 3,167 rated hospitals to rank every state.

Survey period: October 2024 to September 20253,167 rated hospitals50 states ranked
Ranked #1 Wisconsin 4.04 average patient stars
Ranked last (#50) Delaware 2.57 average patient stars
U.S. average 3.27 stars Across 3,167 rated hospitals
Would definitely recommend 71% Of U.S. patients surveyed; 72% rated their hospital 9 or 10
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Key findings

  • Wisconsin ranks #1 with patients. Its 98 rated hospitals average 4.04 patient stars. 25 of them earned 5 stars from patients, and 80% are rated 4 or 5 stars. South Dakota (4.00), Vermont (4.00), Maine (3.92) and Nebraska (3.89) round out the top 5.
  • Delaware ranks last. Its 7 rated hospitals average 2.57 patient stars; 0 have the lowest 1-star rating and 57% score 1 or 2 stars. New York, Arizona, New Jersey and Florida complete the bottom five.
  • Would patients recommend their hospital? 78% of surveyed patients in Kansas said they would definitely recommend their hospital, the highest share of any state, against 64% in Delaware. The U.S. figure is 71%.
  • Most recommended hospital: Asheville-Oteen VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina, where 94% of surveyed patients would definitely recommend it. The lowest share among large hospitals is 35%, at Oroville Hospital in Oroville, California. (Hospitals with 300+ completed surveys.)
  • 222 hospitals (7%) earn 5 patient stars, while 57 (2%) get 1 star. Hospitals with fewer than 100 completed surveys have no patient rating and are left out.

State rankings

Ranked by the average patient star rating of each state's rated hospitals. The bar shows the average out of 5; the tick marks the U.S. average. This is the patient survey only; for Medicare's broader score see the CMS overall quality ratings.

Showing all 50 states

U.S. states ranked by the average CMS HCAHPS patient star rating, survey period October 2024 to September 2025
# State Patient stars Rated 5 ★ 1 ★ 4–5 ★ Recommend Rated 9–10
1 Wisconsin 98 rated 25 five-star 0 one-star 80% rated 4–5 ★ 75% definitely recommend 76% rated 9–10 4.04 98 25 0 80% 75% 76%
2 South Dakota 18 rated 4 five-star 0 one-star 78% rated 4–5 ★ 77% definitely recommend 77% rated 9–10 4.00 18 4 0 78% 77% 77%
3 Vermont 13 rated 3 five-star 0 one-star 77% rated 4–5 ★ 73% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 4.00 13 3 0 77% 73% 74%
4 Maine 25 rated 6 five-star 0 one-star 68% rated 4–5 ★ 72% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.92 25 6 0 68% 72% 73%
5 Nebraska 36 rated 9 five-star 0 one-star 67% rated 4–5 ★ 78% definitely recommend 79% rated 9–10 3.89 36 9 0 67% 78% 79%
6 Idaho 24 rated 6 five-star 0 one-star 63% rated 4–5 ★ 75% definitely recommend 75% rated 9–10 3.88 24 6 0 63% 75% 75%
7 Minnesota 70 rated 10 five-star 0 one-star 70% rated 4–5 ★ 74% definitely recommend 75% rated 9–10 3.83 70 10 0 70% 74% 75%
8 Montana 20 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 70% rated 4–5 ★ 75% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 3.80 20 2 0 70% 75% 74%
9 Utah 34 rated 5 five-star 0 one-star 71% rated 4–5 ★ 77% definitely recommend 78% rated 9–10 3.79 34 5 0 71% 77% 78%
10 Oregon 46 rated 5 five-star 0 one-star 63% rated 4–5 ★ 74% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.74 46 5 0 63% 74% 73%
11 West Virginia 37 rated 11 five-star 0 one-star 57% rated 4–5 ★ 73% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 3.73 37 11 0 57% 73% 74%
12 Kansas 52 rated 7 five-star 0 one-star 65% rated 4–5 ★ 78% definitely recommend 79% rated 9–10 3.71 52 7 0 65% 78% 79%
13 Iowa 48 rated 11 five-star 1 one-star 63% rated 4–5 ★ 76% definitely recommend 78% rated 9–10 3.69 48 11 1 63% 76% 78%
14 Alaska 12 rated 1 five-star 0 one-star 67% rated 4–5 ★ 74% definitely recommend 72% rated 9–10 3.67 12 1 0 67% 74% 72%
15 Louisiana 59 rated 6 five-star 0 one-star 59% rated 4–5 ★ 75% definitely recommend 76% rated 9–10 3.66 59 6 0 59% 75% 76%
16 New Hampshire 21 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 52% rated 4–5 ★ 73% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.62 21 2 0 52% 73% 73%
17 Wyoming 13 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 62% rated 4–5 ★ 72% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 3.62 13 2 0 62% 72% 74%
18 Colorado 56 rated 3 five-star 0 one-star 55% rated 4–5 ★ 75% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 3.52 56 3 0 55% 75% 74%
19 Virginia 79 rated 5 five-star 0 one-star 52% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 72% rated 9–10 3.48 79 5 0 52% 70% 72%
20 Hawaii 13 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 54% rated 4–5 ★ 72% definitely recommend 71% rated 9–10 3.46 13 0 0 54% 72% 71%
21 Kentucky 60 rated 4 five-star 0 one-star 43% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.43 60 4 0 43% 71% 73%
22 Ohio 128 rated 4 five-star 0 one-star 47% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.43 128 4 0 47% 71% 73%
23 South Carolina 50 rated 1 five-star 1 one-star 48% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 72% rated 9–10 3.42 50 1 1 48% 70% 72%
24 Oklahoma 54 rated 5 five-star 0 one-star 44% rated 4–5 ★ 74% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.41 54 5 0 44% 74% 73%
25 North Carolina 93 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 48% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 71% rated 9–10 3.39 93 2 0 48% 70% 71%
26 Indiana 89 rated 3 five-star 0 one-star 46% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.38 89 3 0 46% 71% 73%
27 Mississippi 38 rated 2 five-star 2 one-star 47% rated 4–5 ★ 72% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.34 38 2 2 47% 72% 73%
28 Pennsylvania 135 rated 10 five-star 0 one-star 41% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 72% rated 9–10 3.33 135 10 0 41% 70% 72%
29 Missouri 74 rated 6 five-star 0 one-star 41% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 72% rated 9–10 3.31 74 6 0 41% 71% 72%
30 Texas 229 rated 14 five-star 1 one-star 40% rated 4–5 ★ 73% definitely recommend 74% rated 9–10 3.27 229 14 1 40% 73% 74%
31 Tennessee 77 rated 4 five-star 2 one-star 36% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 71% rated 9–10 3.25 77 4 2 36% 70% 71%
32 Alabama 54 rated 4 five-star 0 one-star 33% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 70% rated 9–10 3.24 54 4 0 33% 71% 70%
33 Washington 60 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 38% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 70% rated 9–10 3.23 60 2 0 38% 71% 70%
34 Arkansas 37 rated 2 five-star 0 one-star 30% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 73% rated 9–10 3.22 37 2 0 30% 71% 73%
35 Michigan 100 rated 11 five-star 5 one-star 45% rated 4–5 ★ 69% definitely recommend 69% rated 9–10 3.21 100 11 5 45% 69% 69%
36 Georgia 93 rated 6 five-star 0 one-star 29% rated 4–5 ★ 71% definitely recommend 71% rated 9–10 3.15 93 6 0 29% 71% 71%
37 Illinois 118 rated 5 five-star 5 one-star 35% rated 4–5 ★ 69% definitely recommend 70% rated 9–10 3.12 118 5 5 35% 69% 70%
38 Rhode Island 11 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 27% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 69% rated 9–10 3.09 11 0 0 27% 70% 69%
39 Massachusetts 54 rated 2 five-star 1 one-star 24% rated 4–5 ★ 70% definitely recommend 68% rated 9–10 3.06 54 2 1 24% 70% 68%
40 Connecticut 26 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 19% rated 4–5 ★ 68% definitely recommend 66% rated 9–10 3.04 26 0 0 19% 68% 66%
41 North Dakota 11 rated 1 five-star 0 one-star 27% rated 4–5 ★ 77% definitely recommend 76% rated 9–10 3.00 11 1 0 27% 77% 76%
42 Nevada 26 rated 1 five-star 0 one-star 27% rated 4–5 ★ 69% definitely recommend 69% rated 9–10 2.92 26 1 0 27% 69% 69%
43 New Mexico 26 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 27% rated 4–5 ★ 66% definitely recommend 69% rated 9–10 2.92 26 0 0 27% 66% 69%
44 California 276 rated 5 five-star 20 one-star 21% rated 4–5 ★ 69% definitely recommend 68% rated 9–10 2.86 276 5 20 21% 69% 68%
45 Maryland 42 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 17% rated 4–5 ★ 66% definitely recommend 66% rated 9–10 2.81 42 0 0 17% 66% 66%
46 New York 135 rated 2 five-star 5 one-star 21% rated 4–5 ★ 67% definitely recommend 66% rated 9–10 2.80 135 2 5 21% 67% 66%
47 Arizona 65 rated 1 five-star 3 one-star 18% rated 4–5 ★ 68% definitely recommend 68% rated 9–10 2.77 65 1 3 18% 68% 68%
48 New Jersey 60 rated 0 five-star 1 one-star 8% rated 4–5 ★ 65% definitely recommend 65% rated 9–10 2.73 60 0 1 8% 65% 65%
49 Florida 165 rated 2 five-star 10 one-star 18% rated 4–5 ★ 69% definitely recommend 68% rated 9–10 2.69 165 2 10 18% 69% 68%
50 Delaware 7 rated 0 five-star 0 one-star 14% rated 4–5 ★ 64% definitely recommend 65% rated 9–10 2.57 7 0 0 14% 64% 65%

“Recommend” is the share of surveyed patients who said they would definitely recommend the hospital to friends and family. “Rated 9–10” is the share who rated it 9 or 10 on a 0–10 scale.

Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming have fewer than 15 rated hospitals, so a single hospital's rating change can move them several places.

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Most recommended hospitals in the U.S.

Hospitals with at least 300 completed surveys and the highest share of patients who said they would definitely recommend the hospital to friends and family.

Least recommended hospitals in the U.S.

Among hospitals with at least 300 completed surveys, these have the lowest share of patients who said they would definitely recommend the hospital. The survey reflects patients' experience of their stay, not clinical outcomes; each hospital's page shows its full results.

What patients are asked

CMS rates each hospital from 1 to 5 stars on these survey topics, then combines them into the patient star rating used on this page.

TopicWhat patients were asked
Nurse communication Did nurses treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
Doctor communication Did doctors treat you with courtesy and respect, listen carefully and explain things clearly?
Communication about medicines Before giving you a new medicine, did staff tell you what it was for and its possible side effects?
Discharge information Did staff talk with you about help you would need at home and symptoms to watch for?
Cleanliness How often were your room and bathroom kept clean?
Quiet at night How often was the area around your room quiet at night?
Overall hospital rating Using any number from 0 to 10, what number would you use to rate this hospital?
Would recommend Would you recommend this hospital to your friends and family?

Questions about hospital patient ratings

Which state's hospitals do patients rate highest?

Wisconsin ranks first. Its 98 hospitals with a patient star rating average 4.04 stars, and 80% are rated 4 or 5 stars by their patients. 75% of surveyed patients there said they would definitely recommend their hospital. South Dakota, Vermont, Maine and Nebraska round out the top 5.

Which state's hospitals do patients rate lowest?

Delaware ranks last of 50. Its 7 rated hospitals average 2.57 patient stars, and 57% are rated 1 or 2 stars. 64% of surveyed patients there said they would definitely recommend their hospital.

What is the HCAHPS patient survey?

HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is the national survey Medicare (CMS) uses to ask a random sample of recent inpatients about their stay: how well nurses and doctors communicated, whether staff explained new medicines and discharge plans, how clean and quiet the hospital was, how they would rate it from 0 to 10 and whether they would recommend it. CMS turns the answers into a 1-to-5 patient star rating. It is separate from the CMS overall hospital star rating, which also weighs mortality, safety, readmissions and timely care. The U.S. average patient star rating is 3.27 across 3,167 rated hospitals.

Why do some hospitals have no patient rating?

CMS only gives a patient star rating to hospitals with at least 100 completed surveys over the reporting period. Small rural, critical access and specialty hospitals often have too few inpatients to reach that, and some hospitals are not required to take part in the survey. A missing patient rating is not a bad rating.

How often are these rankings updated?

This page uses surveys of patients discharged from October 2024 to September 2025. CMS refreshes patient survey results quarterly. The site checks CMS for new data every day and updates the rankings automatically when CMS publishes a new release.

Use this data

Journalists, researchers and health organizations are welcome to use these rankings with a link to this page.

Download CSV Contact us

Methodology: Data is the CMS HCAHPS patient survey (Care Compare, Patient survey - Hospital), covering patients discharged from October 2024 to September 2025. CMS gives a patient star rating only to hospitals with at least 100 completed surveys, and adjusts results for patient mix and survey mode so hospitals can be compared fairly. Each facility is counted once by its CMS Certification Number. A state's rank is the mean patient star rating of its rated hospitals, with ties broken by the share rated 4 or 5 stars. A state's recommend and 9–10 figures are the CMS state results where published, otherwise the average of its rated hospitals.

Patient ratings describe patients' experience of their stay and are not a measure of clinical outcomes; see the CMS overall quality ratings and hospital safety pages for those. About the data. Not affiliated with CMS. For a medical emergency, call 911.