The secret to success behind the top 1% of American hospitals

For 10 of Healthgrades’ “triple crown” awardees, the source of their success is a strong culture focused on the patient-first mindset and staff empowerment.

Healthgrades recognised the 16 hospitals that earned Outstanding Patient Experience, Patient Safety Excellence, and America’s Best Hospitals distinctions for 2026 — making them “Triple Crown” awardees. The organisation evaluated 3,020 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to CMS’ Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems between January and December 2024. Hospitals were evaluated on patient survey data on 10 patient experience measures. Recipients of the outstanding patient experience award earned the highest overall experience scores.

Becker’s asked leaders at these hospitals what operational or cultural factors were pivotal in becoming a Triple Crown awardee, and what results these factors have led to.

David Bernard, CEO of Houston Methodist The Woodlands (Texas), said: "Our focus on safety, quality and patient experience has led to better outcomes, safer care and a more compassionate, personalised experience for the patients and families we serve. It has also shaped a culture where safety, quality and service are inseparable, what we often refer to as our sacred ‘AND.’ We believe patients should never have to choose between exceptional clinical outcomes, a safe environment and an outstanding care experience. That commitment challenges every member of our team to work together and continuously elevate all three. The result is highly reliable, patient-centred care that improves lives, earns the trust of our patients and families and strengthens our ability to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our growing community for years to come".

Shabnam Lankarani, DO. Chief Medical Officer at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax, Va.) said: "Our philosophy has always been simple: do the right thing for patients and team members, and the results will follow. We have built a strong culture of safety and psychological safety, where team members are encouraged to speak up, learn from near misses and great catches, and address challenges early. Daily huddles and our 3×5 Safety Toolkit — a high reliability framework built to strengthen a culture of safety and team performance — help make those practices part of our everyday work. Just as importantly, our team members are at the center of everything we do. We invest in them, listen to them and work together across the system to continuously improve care."

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Source: Becker's Clinical Leadership, 14 August 2026