Healthgrades recognizes UNC Health Johnston for exceptional performance, patient experience

UNC Health Johnston has received the 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ plus several five-star specialty care ratings from Healthgrades, a site that consumers often use to find a doctor or hospital.

The award reflects UNC Health Johnston’s commitment to superior, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 15% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience.

The five-star specialty care ratings are based on exceptional performance in the key service areas of carotid surgery and treatment of stroke, pancreatitis and COPD. These achievements further underscore the organization’s commitment to delivering safe, patient-centered care at every step of the patient journey.

CEO Tom Williams said the awards reflect the organization’s commitment to providing high-quality care close to home. “Our teams, leaders and medical providers are continually improving processes and embracing new technology to grow and enhance our services—all toward putting the needs of our patients first,” he said.

Every 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. UNC Health Johnston’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, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “As an Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient, UNC Health Johnston 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.

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2026 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.