High-Quality Care at Washington Regional
Whether it’s a planned procedure or an emergency, patients deserve to know the care they receive meets the highest standards of quality and safety. At Washington Regional, our commitment to delivering high-quality care is demonstrated by the numerous quality achievements we've received from the most reputable quality and patient safety advocacy organizations in the country. These accolades are based on data-driven insights related to outcomes, safety, and overall patient satisfaction.
Why do quality ratings, accreditations and certifications matter?
Quality ratings, accreditations and certifications serve as trusted indicators of a health care organization’s commitment to prioritizing patients’ needs. To put it more simply, these independent evaluations serve as report cards for health care organizations.
Evaluations from advocacy groups and accrediting organizations assess numerous factors, ranging from patient outcomes and patient experience to safety practices and organizational performance. High ratings and prestigious achievements assure patients and their loved ones that they are receiving care that meets or exceeds the most rigorous standards.
Which quality ratings are most reputable?
There are many types of ratings related to the quality of health care, with a handful that are universally recognized as the most respected in the health care industry, including:
- U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals
- For five consecutive years, Washington Regional Medical Center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas and is rated as High Performing in 12 areas of care for 2025/2026 - more than any other hospital in the state. U.S. News & World Report is the global authority in health care quality rankings. Rankings are determined by a hospital's excellence in clinical outcomes, level of nursing care, and patient experience. To see how Arkansas hospitals ranked in the most recent U.S. News & World Report list, click here.
- U.S. News & World Report Maternity Care
- For four consecutive years, Washington Regional Medical Center has been named a High Performing hospital for Maternity Care in Arkansas by U.S. News & World Report. Ratings are based entirely on objective measures of quality such as C-section rates, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices, and more. U.S. News & World Report is the global authority in health care rankings. To see which Arkansas hospitals were named a High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care, click here.
- Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
- For seven consecutive reports, Washington Regional Medical Center has received an “A grade” from Leapfrog, achieving Straight-A status from the nationally recognized watchdog. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries, and infections that can hurt a patient or even cause death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public to help patients make informed decisions about where to seek care. To see Leapfrog safety grades for Arkansas hospitals, click here.
- CMS Star Ratings
- CMS is an acronym for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency. Washington Regional Medical Center has achieved a 4-star (above average) CMS rating for three consecutive years, making it one of the two top-performing hospitals in the state. Ratings are based on five areas of quality: mortality, safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience, and timely and effective care. To see CMS ratings for Arkansas hospitals, click here.
- Chest Pain - MI Registry
- The Chest Pain - MI Registry, administered by the American College of Cardiology, recognizes participating hospitals that demonstrate sustained, top-level performance in quality of care and adherence to guidelines/recommendations for treating heart attack patients. Washington Regional Medical Center has earned Platinum level status, the highest level of recognition, for three consecutive years for its adherence to the most current, science-based guidelines for treating patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients. To view how other hospitals in Arkansas compare, click here.
- STS Star Ratings
- Star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) are one of the most highly regarded measures of quality and are assigned based on a hospital’s performance for cardiothoracic surgery compared to national benchmarks. STS ratings assist patients in making decisions about where to receive care and help hospitals and surgeons identify ways to enhance patient care. Ratings range from one to three stars, with 70-80% of participating hospitals holding a 2-star (as expected) rating. Washington Regional holds an overall composite score of 2-stars. To view STS ratings for Arkansas hospitals, click here.
Which quality certifications and designations are most reputable?
There are many organizations that provide quality certifications and designations in the health care industry with some of the most reputable being:
- Blue Distinction Centers
- This distinction is awarded by BlueCross BlueShield companies and recognizes a facility’s excellence in delivering quality, affordable care to its patients. BlueCross BlueShield offers two levels of distinction. Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) and Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+). BDC+ distinction recognizes health care facilities that go above and beyond providing safe and cost-efficient care. Washington Regional Medical Center has been named a BDC+ organization for Maternity Care, Spine Surgery, and Knee and Hip Replacement. To see Blue Distinction Designations for Arkansas hospitals, click here.
- The Joint Commission Certifications
- The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and most esteemed organization offering quality accreditations and certifications to hospitals. To earn these achievements, hospitals undergo rigorous on-site inspections that evaluate compliance with related certification standards, including clinical information management, program management, supporting self-management, and clinical care. Washington Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Arkansas to achieve Advanced Certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. Washington Regional is also the only hospital in Northwest Arkansas to achieve Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery and Advanced Certification in Hip and Knee Replacement. To see The Joint Commission’s assessment of Arkansas hospitals, click here.
- Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence Designation
- This designation is awarded to hospitals that meet standards set by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and is considered the industry’s gold standard in antimicrobial stewardship. Hospitals receiving this designation are honored for their commitment to preventing antibiotic-resistant infections. In 2018, Washington Regional was the first Arkansas hospital to achieve this designation and is the only hospital in the state to receive four consecutive Center of Excellence designations. To see which Arkansas hospitals hold this designation, click here.
- Trauma Center Designations
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Trauma Center designations indicate the level of trauma care a facility is equipped to provide. As a Level II Trauma Center, Washington Regional offers the highest level of trauma care in Northwest Arkansas for patients with life-threatening or critical injuries. To see Trauma Center designations across Arkansas, click here.
Washington Regional quality awards in the news
Washington Regional is proud of its numerous quality achievements, which are only possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team members who are committed to our vision of being the best place for our patients to receive care and the best place for our team members to provide care. Below you can view a list of Washington Regional quality and patient safety stories in the news.
2026
2025
- U.S. News & World Report "Best Regional Hospitals" – Named #1 hospital in Arkansas for the fifth consecutive year and rated "High Performing" in 12 areas of care
- U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals for Maternity Care" – High Performing hospital for Maternity (Uncomplicated Pregnancy)
- Forbes Top Hospitals – Recognized by Forbes as a top hospital for high-quality, high-value medical services
- Becker's 100 Great Hospitals in America – Recognized for providing excellent clinical care, prioritizing patient safety, and top-tier patient outcomes
- Washington Regional Maintains Elite "Straight A" Status in Latest Hospital Safety Grades - Earned an “A” in the Leapfrog Group’s fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grades, maintaining designation as a Straight A hospital
- Washington Regional's North Hills Surgery Center Among Top Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Country– Named one of America's Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers for 2026 by Newsweek
- Washington Regional Earns National Recognition for Quality Heart Attack Care – Earned American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold recognition for second consecutive year
- Washington Regional Earns Four National Awards for Stroke Care – Earned American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus, Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy, and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards.
- Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade – A, Spring 2025 – Earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade in the Leapfrog Group’s spring 2025 Hospital Safety Grades, maintaining designation as a Straight A hospital
- Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence Designation – Earned redesignation for a fourth time as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE) by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
- Heart Failure Readmission Rate Among Best in Country – Recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as having one of the country’s lowest hospital readmission rates for patients with heart failure
- Redesignated as Region's Only Level II Trauma Center – Achieved redesignation from the Arkansas Department of Health as a Level II Trauma Center within the Arkansas Trauma System
- Lab Achieves CAP, AABB Reaccreditation – Achieved reaccreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the world’s leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs.
- Inpatient Quality Incentive (IQI) Program – The award recognizes Washington Regional’s participation in the IQI program since 2007 and for working to improve the health of Arkansans.
- Arkansas Department of Health Diamond Award Recognition for Stroke Care Performance
- American College of Emergency Physicians Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation- Recognizes Washington Regional for having policies and procedures in place to meet the needs of older patients.
- Washington Regional Center for Sleep Disorders Earns Reaccreditation by AASM
- Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Results of the newspaper’s annual readers poll:
2024
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2018