People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Carroll County face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County is a 70-bed facility in Huntingdon, Tennessee, that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The hospital offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, powered by TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County has earned many awards and recognitions, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Valued Healthcare, the QUEST Hero Award, the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and multiple “A” Hospital Safety grades from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was one of only two in Tennessee named to the Chartis Center for Rural Health 2025 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Baptist Carroll County also operates an outpatient surgery department in Jackson, Tennessee, offering convenient access to same-day surgical services with advanced capabilities. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook.

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People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Paragould face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-basedguidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Paragould provides progressive, compassionate health care to residents throughout Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. A 129-bed hospital with eight medical clinics, inpatient rehabilitation services, multiple medical specialties and a 91-bed assisted living facility, the hospital has received multiple recognitions for its cardiovascular and women’s health care. Formerly named Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Baptist Paragould merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care in March 2026. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/baptistmemorialparagould/.

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People living in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas and face a 30% higher risk of dying from stroke, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health. That gap has widened over the past two decades, and the hospital is committed to helping change that.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability.

“Patients and health care professionals in Union County face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author of the Association’s rural health advisory. “Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, cancer care, sleep lab, maternity, orthopedics, surgery, robotic surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans, 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned multiple “A” Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Facebook.

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Forbes created the list to help consumers navigate the United States health care system. The list is based on a unique rating system that evaluates general acute care hospitals throughout the United States to offer consumers unbiased information on which hospitals can offer top-notch, high-value medical services, as well as provide a benchmark that hospitals can compare their performance against.           

To produce the Forbes Top Hospitals rating system, Forbes enlisted health care measurement experts, including an advisory panel — comprising clinicians, scientists, health policy researchers and patient advocates — and partnered with Inovalon, a health care data and analytics firm, to calculate the ratings. The foundation of the methodology is validated and vetted data extracted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Data Catalog. Through this dataset, Forbes identified health care quality measures that assess patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value and patient experience. These measures were chosen specifically because they have been developed and regularly tested by leaders in the health care community to meet rigorous national standards.

Approximately 5,400 general acute care hospitals — which are listed in the CMS PDC and are currently operating in the U.S. — were eligible for consideration. From that initial pool, approximately 2,500 hospitals met the inclusion criteria (detailed in the methodology). The ratings were then calculated, and of these facilities, 253 hospitals received an overall rating of five stars, and 509 hospitals received an overall rating of four stars. These four- and five-star hospitals comprise the first-ever Forbes Top Hospitals list: Forbes Top Hospitals.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 23,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Baptist Memorial’s Technology Services team received the CSO award at the annual CSO Cybersecurity Awards & Conference, held May 11-13, 2026. The event brings together security technology and industry professionals to discuss cybersecurity excellence.

“This year’s award winners show how security teams have repositioned themselves as strategic business enablers,” said Beth Kormanik, content director of the CSO Cybersecurity Awards & Conference. “They tackle business challenges by leveraging new technology and ideas and delivering detailed planning and strong execution. Their organizations are stronger for these efforts that protect revenue continuity, improve resilience and strengthen compliance. We congratulate them and look forward to celebrating them at the CSO Cybersecurity Awards & Conference."

Other 2026 CSO Award winners include Accenture, Adobe, Aflac, Docusign, Gates Corporation, Genesys, Medtronic PLC, National Cybersecurity Alliance, Newsmax, Salesforce, Uber Technologies Inc. and United Airlines

CSO serves enterprise security decision-makers and users with the critical information they need to stay ahead of evolving threats and defend against criminal cyberattacks. With incisive content that addresses all security disciplines, from risk management to network defense to fraud and data loss prevention, CSO offers unparalleled depth and insight to support key decisions and investments for IT security professionals. www.csoonline.com

The CSO Awards recognize organizations for security projects and initiatives demonstrating outstanding business value and thought leadership. The CSO Hall of Fame honors leaders who have significantly contributed to advancing information risk management and security. Inductees exemplify the qualities of leadership and excellence and, by their example, contribute to improving security across all organizations. Award winners are honored at the CSO Cybersecurity Awards & Conference.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 25 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 24,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Baptist Calhoun Nursing Home is among the top 5% of health care providers in delivering employee experience in the last year.

The HX Guardian of Excellence Award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in one of three categories: patient experience, consumer experience and employee experience.

"This recognition reflects Baptist Calhoun Nursing Home’s relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “Their forward-thinking approach and focus on continuous improvement inspire us all. We’re proud to partner with them as we work toward a more connected, equitable and human healthcare experience.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

Founded in 1970, Baptist Calhoun became affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care in 2016. The 27,000-square-foot facility has 25 licensed hospital beds and 120 licensed nursing home beds. Baptist Calhoun has a 24/7 emergency department, along with telemedicine, diagnostics services and hospice care. For more information, call 662-628-6611 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/calhoun/services.

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Baptist Carroll County is among the top 5% of health care providers for physician experience in acute care in the last year.

The HX Guardian of Excellence Award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in one of three categories: patient experience, consumer experience and employee experience.

"Baptist Carroll County is raising the bar for what great physician experiences look like,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “They’re turning ambition into action, building a culture where every interaction reflects purpose, respect and care. That kind of leadership makes a lasting difference.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County is a 70-bed facility in Huntingdon, Tennessee, that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The hospital offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, powered by TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County has earned many awards and recognitions, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Valued Healthcare, the QUEST Hero Award, the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and multiple “A” Hospital Safety grades from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was one of only two in Tennessee named to the Chartis Center for Rural Health 2025 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Baptist Carroll County also operates an outpatient surgery center in Jackson, Tennessee, offering convenient access to same-day surgical services with advanced capabilities. To learn more, visit baptistonline.org/carrollcounty, or follow us on Facebook at @BaptistCarrollCounty.

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To qualify for the HX Guardian of Excellence Award, Baptist Golden Triangle had to rank in the top 5% of health care providers in delivering patient experience for the past year. The Pinnacle of Excellence Award recognizes the three highest performing facilities for each market segment based on their averaged engagement scores from census surveys conducted in the two most recent calendar years.

These awards are part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in patient experience, consumer experience, employee experience and clinical quality.

“Every day, Baptist Golden Triangle leads with purpose — showing what it means to deliver exceptional care to patients, support their workforce and strengthen their community,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “It’s a true honor to recognize their extraordinary commitment and impact.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

With 323 beds, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospitals affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital that offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages. In addition to Baptist Cancer Center in Columbus and Starkville, the hospital offers a variety of other services to the community, including Baptist Behavioral Health Care, for those with behavioral and mental health problems; an extensive rehabilitation department; and free community education programs for the public. For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/golden-triangle, or follow us on Facebook @BaptistGoldenTriangle.

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To qualify for the HX Guardian of Excellence Award, Baptist Booneville and Baptist Union County had to rank in the top 5% of health care providers in delivering patient experience for the past year. The Pinnacle of Excellence Award, presented to Baptist Union County, recognizes the three highest performing facilities for each market segment based on their averaged engagement scores from census surveys conducted in the two most recent calendar years.

These awards are part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in patient experience, consumer experience, employee experience and clinical quality.

“We proudly congratulate Baptist Booneville and Baptist Union County, whose work affirms our shared belief in the power of patient-centered care, engaged teams and strong clinical outcomes,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “We’re excited to continue our partnership as they shape the future of healthcare experiences.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

Baptist Booneville offers general surgery, critical care, diagnostic services, outpatient cancer services and other acute care services. The hospital operates one of the few geriatric psychiatric units in the area, as well as an Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health Unit and Sleep Disorders Lab. It also features a specialty clinic that includes ophthalmology services. For more information, please call 662-720-5000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/booneville. 

Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, cancer care, sleep lab, maternity, orthopedics, surgery, robotic surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans, 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned multiple “A” Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group, an Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/union-county, or follow us on Facebook at @BaptistUnionCounty.

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Baptist Cancer Center is among the top 5% of health care providers for employee experience, and Mid-South Imaging Center is among the top 5% delivering patient experience in the U.S. in the last year.

The HX Guardian of Excellence Award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in one of three categories: patient experience, consumer experience and employee experience.

"This recognition reflects Baptist’s relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “Their forward-thinking approach and focus on continuous improvement inspire us all. We’re proud to partner with them as we work toward a more connected, equitable and human healthcare experience.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 7,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,500 providers in 50 specialties; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 23,000 people, and in fiscal year 2024 contributed more than $388 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Oxford Diagnostic Center is among the top 5% of health care providers delivering patient experience in the U.S. in the last year.

The HX Guardian of Excellence Award is part of Press Ganey’s annual ranking of top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in one of three categories: patient experience, consumer experience and employee experience.

"Oxford Diagnostic Center is showing what it truly means to deliver compassionate, person-centered care,” said Patrick T. Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Press Ganey. “Their deep commitment to both patients and caregivers is creating a culture where empathy drives action — and where people feel seen, heard and supported. It’s a privilege to stand beside them on this journey.”

Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care.

Baptist North Mississippi is a 217-bed hospital in Oxford, Mississippi, that offers a variety of services, including cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, home care and hospice, and a 24-hour emergency room. In November 2017, the hospital moved into a five-story, 600,000-square-foot-facility that offers expanded services, including a larger emergency department, advanced technology and larger rooms for patients and their families. Since the hospital became affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care in 1989, Baptist has invested almost $700 million into the community. For more information, please call 662-636-1000 or visit northmiss.baptistonline.org.

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The Performance Leadership Awards Program recognizes top quartile performance (e.g., 75^th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in Quality, Outcomes and/or Patient Perspective. These groups serve as a benchmark for other rural facilities and provide a blueprint for successfully navigating health care challenges.

The Performance Leadership Awards Program is based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, a comprehensive and objective framework for assessing how rural hospitals are performing. INDEX benchmarks are relied upon by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health to measure performance across multiple areas that affect hospital operations and finance.

“The areas of quality, outcomes and patient perspective are cornerstones of health care delivery across rural America, and this year’s Performance Leadership Award recipients are establishing a standard of excellence for their rural peers to follow,” said Michael Topchik, executive director, Chartis Center for Rural Health. “We are delighted to shine a spotlight on such strong performance and honor the achievement of these hospitals.”

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County is a 70-bed facility in Huntingdon, Tennessee, that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The hospital offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, powered by TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County has earned many awards and recognitions, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Value Healthcare, the QUEST Hero Award, the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and multiple “A” Hospital Safety grades from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was one of only two in Tennessee named to the Chartis Center for Rural Health 2025 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Baptist Carroll County also operates an outpatient surgery center in Jackson, Tennessee, offering convenient access to same-day surgical services with advanced capabilities. To learn more, visit baptistonline.org/carrollcounty, or follow us on Facebook at @BaptistCarrollCounty.

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 Baptist North Mississippi is among only 19 hospitals and health care organizations recognized for their achievements in delivering exceptional patient care and advancing sustainability practices.

Vizient also recognized Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville as Top Performers.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study, underscoring two decades of advancing performance improvement through the Vizient Clinical Data Base. The CDB provides transparent data for more than 1,400 facilities on patient quality of care — such as mortality, length of stay, readmission rates and complications — that enable hospitals to benchmark against peers, identify opportunities for improvement and expedite data collection.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, these organizations are leading the way in demonstrating what is possible when a relentless focus on clinical quality and patient outcomes drives performance,” said Vizient CEO Byron Jobe. “Their achievements highlight how innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to patients can transform care delivery and strengthen communities. Vizient is honored to recognize these leaders for setting today’s standards of excellence and shaping the future of healthcare.”

The Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award recognizes participating health care organizations in seven cohorts through the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care. The study factors in measures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and includes performance data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Vizient Inc., the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, provides solutions and services to more than two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and more than one-third of ambulatory providers. Vizient offers proprietary data and analytics to deliver unique clinical and operational insights and a contract portfolio representing $156 billion in annual purchasing volume enabling the delivery of cost-effective care. With its acquisition of Kaufman Hall in 2024, Vizient expanded its advisory services to help providers achieve financial, clinical and operational excellence. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

Baptist North Mississippi is a 217-bed hospital in Oxford, Mississippi, that offers a variety of services, including cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, home care and hospice, and a 24-hour emergency room. In November 2017, the hospital moved into a five-story, 600,000-square-foot-facility that offers expanded services, including a larger emergency department, advanced technology and larger rooms for patients and their families. Since the hospital became affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care in 1989, Baptist has invested almost $700 million into the community. For more information, please call 662-636-1000 or visit northmiss.baptistonline.org. 

Baptist Booneville is among only 18 hospitals and health care organizations recognized for their achievements in delivering exceptional patient care and advancing sustainability practices.

Vizient also recognized Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden as Top Performers.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study, underscoring two decades of advancing performance improvement through the Vizient Clinical Data Base. The CDB provides transparent data for more than 1,400 facilities on patient quality of care — such as mortality, length of stay, readmission rates and complications — that enable hospitals to benchmark against peers, identify opportunities for improvement and expedite data collection.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, these organizations are leading the way in demonstrating what is possible when a relentless focus on clinical quality and patient outcomes drives performance,” said Vizient CEO Byron Jobe. “Their achievements highlight how innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to patients can transform care delivery and strengthen communities. Vizient is honored to recognize these leaders for setting today’s standards of excellence and shaping the future of healthcare.”

The Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award recognizes participating health care organizations in seven cohorts through the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care. The study factors in measures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and includes performance data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Vizient Inc., the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, provides solutions and services to more than two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and more than one-third of ambulatory providers. Vizient offers proprietary data and analytics to deliver unique clinical and operational insights and a contract portfolio representing $156 billion in annual purchasing volume enabling the delivery of cost-effective care. With its acquisition of Kaufman Hall in 2024, Vizient expanded its advisory services to help providers achieve financial, clinical and operational excellence. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

Baptist Booneville offers general surgery, critical care, diagnostic services, outpatient cancer services and other acute care services. The hospital operates one of the few geriatric psychiatric units in the area, as well as an Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health Unit and Sleep Disorders Lab. It also features a specialty clinic that includes ophthalmology services. For more information, please call 662-720-5000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/booneville. 

Baptist Crittenden is among only 18 hospitals and health care organizations recognized for their achievements in delivering exceptional patient care and advancing sustainability practices.

Vizient also recognized Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville as Top Performers.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Vizient’s Quality and Accountability Study, underscoring two decades of advancing performance improvement through the Vizient Clinical Data Base. The CDB provides transparent data for more than 1,400 facilities on patient quality of care — such as mortality, length of stay, readmission rates and complications — that enable hospitals to benchmark against peers, identify opportunities for improvement and expedite data collection.

“As healthcare continues to evolve, these organizations are leading the way in demonstrating what is possible when a relentless focus on clinical quality and patient outcomes drives performance,” said Vizient CEO Byron Jobe. “Their achievements highlight how innovation, collaboration and a deep commitment to patients can transform care delivery and strengthen communities. Vizient is honored to recognize these leaders for setting today’s standards of excellence and shaping the future of healthcare.”

The Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award recognizes participating health care organizations in seven cohorts through the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which measures performance on the quality of patient care in six domains: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness and variation in care. The study factors in measures from the Vizient Clinical Data Base and includes performance data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Vizient Inc., the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, provides solutions and services to more than two-thirds of the nation’s acute care providers and more than one-third of ambulatory providers. Vizient offers proprietary data and analytics to deliver unique clinical and operational insights and a contract portfolio representing $156 billion in annual purchasing volume enabling the delivery of cost-effective care. With its acquisition of Kaufman Hall in 2024, Vizient expanded its advisory services to help providers achieve financial, clinical and operational excellence. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden opened in November 2018 and is an 11-bed, 65,000-square-foot acute care facility serving Crittenden County, Arkansas. The hospital offers emergency services, general and orthopedic surgery, quality inpatient and outpatient diagnostic services, echocardiography imaging and an eight-bay cancer center that provides chemotherapy and infusion therapy. For more information, visit baptistonline.org/crittenden, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BaptistCrittenden/. 

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The Comprehensive Quality Model is a value-based performance framework that prioritizes patient safety, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, effective health information management and improved patient outcomes. Baptist Golden Triangle took the top spot in three of the seven award categories — Overall Top CQM, Sepsis Management and Cardiac Care — during Blue Cross & Blue Shield’s third annual Quality Forum.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven also earned a top performing spot for Plan All-Cause Readmissions.

Thirty-one Mississippi hospitals participated in the CQM program, demonstrating improvements in patient care statewide. According to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, trend data indicates hospitals are improving in the management of sepsis care, maternity care and cardiac care.

“The Comprehensive Quality Model is guiding us towards better healthcare for all Mississippians,” said Dr. Lee Greer, chief medical officer at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, who commended the hospitals’ collective efforts. “We believe every person in Mississippi deserves safe, high-quality and efficient healthcare. The progress we’ve seen so far is a direct result of the collaborative work being done and shared at events like the forum. We are committed to continuing this culture of learning and improvement in the years to come.”

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is transforming the delivery of healthcare and health for Mississippians through partnerships with providers, employers, members and communities across the state. The Company has earned a position as Mississippi’s health and wellness leader by encouraging wellness through personal engagement and access to quality healthcare. To learn more, visit bcbsms.com. Follow us on Facebook for health and wellness tips. 

With 323 beds, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospitals affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital that offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages. In addition to the Baptist Cancer Center in Columbus and Starkville, the hospital offers a variety of other services to the community, including Baptist Behavioral Health Care, for those with behavioral and mental health problems; an extensive rehabilitation department; and free community education programs for the public. For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/golden-triangle, or follow us on Facebook @BaptistGoldenTriangle.

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The Comprehensive Quality Model is a value-based performance framework that prioritizes patient safety, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, effective health information management and improved patient outcomes. Baptist DeSoto earned a top performing spot for Plan All-Cause Readmissions during Blue Cross & Blue Shield’s third annual Quality Forum.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus took the top spot in three of the seven award categories — Overall Top CQM, Sepsis Management and Cardiac Care.

Thirty-one Mississippi hospitals participated in the CQM program, demonstrating improvements in patient care statewide. According to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, trend data indicates hospitals are improving in the management of sepsis care, maternity care and cardiac care.

“The Comprehensive Quality Model is guiding us towards better healthcare for all Mississippians,” said Dr. Lee Greer, chief medical officer at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, who commended the hospitals’ collective efforts. “We believe every person in Mississippi deserves safe, high-quality and efficient healthcare. The progress we’ve seen so far is a direct result of the collaborative work being done and shared at events like the forum. We are committed to continuing this culture of learning and improvement in the years to come.”

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is transforming the delivery of healthcare and health for Mississippians through partnerships with providers, employers, members and communities across the state. The Company has earned a position as Mississippi’s health and wellness leader by encouraging wellness through personal engagement and access to quality healthcare. To learn more, visit bcbsms.com. Follow us on Facebook for health and wellness tips. 

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. The hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital in six specialties for 2025–2026, the American Heart Association for cardiac and stroke care and the American College of Cardiology as a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in 2025. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

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This recognition is offered to doctors of osteopathic medicine who are AOASM members and affirms their experience, dedication, service and contribution to the advancement of sports medicine.

“This award means a great deal to me because my father was also named a fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine,” said Biery. “He served as a member and president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine board for years. Unfortunately, he passed in 2022. Although he did not see me receive this honor, it makes me happy to have reached a shared goal and makes me feel closer to him.”

Biery joined BHSU in 2022 as an associate professor and chair of osteopathic principles and practice with the college of osteopathic medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Science of pharmacy degree from the University of Toledo before earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He served 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a family and sports medicine physician in academic, administrative and clinical settings. While in the Navy, he was the primary care sports medicine physician for the U.S. Naval Academy football and wrestling teams; Team U.S. physician for the inaugural and second international Invictus Games and multiple Department of Defense Warrior Games for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers; and the U.S. Navy Surgeon Generals Sports Medicine specialty leader. Most recently, he has provided physician coverage for the Memphis Hustle NBA G League team.

Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the first school for doctors of osteopathic medicine in Memphis and West Tennessee and one of 15 majors of study offered by the college of osteopathic medicine. Part of Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems with 24 hospitals across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s DO students have the unique opportunity to study and train at some of the best hospitals and with one of the largest multispecialty physician groups in the Mid-South. Like medical doctors, Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine students who focus on a holistic, patient-centered medical approach complete four years of medical school, followed by residency and fellowship training. The primary campus for the school includes a 100,000-square-foot building with the latest medical technology in Memphis’ medical district. 

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The award recognizes Baptist’s information technology and security team for significantly reducing the organization’s enterprise vulnerability risk score and effectively protecting critical patient information systems. The award-winning initiative turned passive security monitoring into active threat reduction.

“Baptist Technology Services is honored to be recognized by CSO for our work in protecting Baptist Memorial Health Care patients and families from security threats,” said Tom Barnett, chief information and digital officer for Baptist. “This award is an acknowledgement of the team’s commitment to ensuring safety for our entire network through data-driven security initiatives.”

This is the second time Baptist has received this award. In 2024, Baptist was recognized for developing a secondary disaster recovery system to protect the Baptist data center from environmental risks, such as floods, tornados and ransomware attacks.

“The scope and complexity of cybersecurity responsibilities are expanding rapidly —especially in the face of emerging AI-driven threats,” said Beth Kormanik, content director of the CSO Conference & Awards. “This year’s CSO Award winners exemplify how today’s security leaders are meeting these challenges head on.”

The CSO Awards recognize organizations for security projects and initiatives demonstrating outstanding business value and thought leadership. This year's awards will highlight those at the forefront of security innovation, such as new threat-detection methods, advanced cyber analytics and initiatives addressing artificial intelligence dangers, zero trust and data protection. Award winners will be honored at the CSO Conference & Awards in October.

CSO serves enterprise security decision-makers and users with the critical information they need to stay ahead of evolving threats and defend against criminal cyberattacks. With incisive content that addresses all security disciplines, from risk management to network defense to fraud and data loss prevention, CSO offers unparalleled depth and insight to support key decisions and investments for IT security professionals. Go to www.csoonline.com for more information. 

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 6,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,100 providers; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 22,000 people, and in fiscal year 2023 contributed more than $465 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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“Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is committed to providing excellent care for our community by implementing best practices, adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” said Brian Hogan, CEO and administrator of Baptist DeSoto. “Our teams put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in our service area experience longer, healthier lives.”

The two achievement awards include American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Bronze with Target: Heart Failure Optimal and Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. These awards recognize Baptist DeSoto for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke.

Baptist DeSoto is one of only 323 hospitals nationwide to receive the Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2025. The award recognizes Baptist DeSoto’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that the hospital has reached the aggressive goal of treating patients to standard levels of care outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

Earlier this year, Baptist DeSoto became the first hospital in Mississippi to earn the HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence. That means the hospital successfully achieved four ACC cardiovascular accreditations in the areas of chest pain, heart failure, catheterization lab and electrophysiology lab.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. The hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital in six specialties for 2025–2026, the American Heart Association for cardiac and stroke care and the American College of Cardiology as a HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence in 2025. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

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Mississippi Baptist Medical Center was named the Best Regional Hospital for the state of Mississippi and Jackson, Mississippi, and High Performing in 15 categories. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis was rated High Performing in 19 categories and was named the Best Regional Hospital in Memphis and the No. 2 hospital in Tennessee, in a tie with another hospital.

“It is an honor to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for the excellent care we provide at Baptist Memorial hospitals,” said Dr. William Cloud, VP/chief medical officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “Our staff is committed to continuous improvement, implementing best practices and advancing quality care in every community we serve.”

Four Baptist Memorial hospitals were also named High Performing Hospitals in multiple categories:

• Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto was named High Performing for six conditions — Heart Failure, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], Diabetes, Heart Attack, Kidney Failure and Pneumonia
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi was rated High Performing for six procedures and conditions — Colon Cancer Surgery, Diabetes, Heart Attack, Hip Fracture, Kidney Failure and Pneumonia
• NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital was rated High Performing in four areas — Diabetes, Heart Attack, Kidney Failure and Pneumonia
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County was rated High Performing for Pneumonia

To determine the Best Hospitals, U.S. News analyzed each hospital’s performance based on objective measures, such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from more than 800 million records of patient care.

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services. For more information, visit Best Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 6,000 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,100 providers; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 22,000 people, and in fiscal year 2023 contributed more than $465 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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“Baptist Carroll County is committed to providing quality health care for all our patients,” said Susan Breeden, administrator and CEO of Baptist Carroll County. “These recognitions demonstrate our team’s commitment to excellence and providing outstanding care in every discipline. We will continue to work to ensure more people in Carroll County experience longer, healthier lives.”

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Rural Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award recognizes the hospital for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

CAP accreditation, provided by the College of American Pathologists, signifies Baptist Carroll County’s commitment to quality and excellence in laboratory services. Recognized globally as one of the most stringent accreditation processes in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine, CAP accreditation is a rigorous process that ensures laboratories maintain high standards of quality and compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring reliable test results and patient safety. CAP-accredited laboratories demonstrate excellence in patient care and laboratory practices.

The Acute Stroke Ready Hospital Certification by the Joint Commission is for hospitals or emergency centers with a dedicated stroke-focused program and represents Baptist Carroll County’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of health care quality and safety for patients, team members and the community.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County is a 70-bed facility in Huntingdon, Tennessee, that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The hospital offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, powered by TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County has earned many awards and recognitions, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Value Healthcare, the QUEST Hero Award, the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and multiple “A” Hospital Safety grades from the Leapfrog Group. The hospital was one of only two in Tennessee named to the Chartis Center for Rural Health 2025 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list. Baptist Carroll County also operates an outpatient surgery center in Jackson, Tennessee, offering convenient access to same-day surgical services with advanced capabilities. To learn more, visit baptistonline.org/carrollcounty, or follow us on Facebook at @BaptistCarrollCounty.

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The award recognizes Mississippi Baptist Medical Center’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. Recognized hospitals have demonstrated sustained, top-level performance in quality of care and adherence to guideline recommendations.

“Being recognized by the American College of Cardiology for the heart care we provide at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center is a great honor and a validation of the high-quality heart care our staff provides,” said Bobbie Ware, CEO and administrator at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. “This award validates the excellence of our clinical team and demonstrates their commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients and community. I congratulate our heart division for dedicating themselves every day to the well-being of seriously ill heart patients and for continuing to raise the bar for heart care.”   

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry for five consecutive years and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry immerses hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

The National Cardiovascular Data Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, named the No. 1 hospital in Mississippi six years in a row by U.S. News & World Report, signed a shared mission agreement with Baptist Memorial Health Care in May 2017, making Baptist Memorial one of Mississippi’s largest employers and the largest health care system in the state. MBMC has 638 licensed beds and is home to Baptist Cancer Center, a six-level tower housing the Cardiovascular Center and Baptist for Women. The hospital has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellent care, including  the Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, and was awarded the Chest Pain Center Accreditation with PCI (Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) by the American College of Cardiology in 2024. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/jackson or follow us on www.facebook.com/mississippibaptistmedicalcenter.

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Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a top cause of disability in the United States. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“Baptist Golden Triangle is committed to providing quality stroke and heart care for all our patients,” said Robert Coleman, administrator and CEO at Baptist Golden Triangle. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to access and implement proven knowledge and guidelines on a daily basis, which helps patients recover better. The ultimate goal is to ensure more people in Columbus experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the Get With The Guidelines award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

Baptist Golden Triangle also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized because of stroke.

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

With 323 beds, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospitals affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital that offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages. In addition to the Baptist Cancer Center in Columbus and Starkville, the hospital offers a variety of other services to the community, including Baptist Behavioral Health Care, for those with behavioral and mental health problems; an extensive rehabilitation department; and free community education programs for the public.  For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/golden-triangle, or follow us on Facebook @BaptistGoldenTriangle.

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The award recognizes Baptist Golden Triangle’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. Recognized hospitals have demonstrated sustained, top-level performance in quality of care and adherence to guideline recommendations.

“Being recognized by the American College of Cardiology for the heart care we provide at Baptist Golden Triangle is a great honor and a validation of the high-quality heart care our staff provides,” said Robert Coleman, CEO and administrator at Baptist Golden Triangle. “This award validates the excellence of our clinical team and demonstrates their commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients and community. I congratulate our heart division for dedicating themselves every day to the well-being of seriously ill heart patients and for continuing to raise the bar for heart care.”   

Baptist Golden Triangle has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry immerses hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

The National Cardiovascular Data Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.

With 323 beds, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospitals affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital that offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages. In addition to the Baptist Cancer Center in Columbus and Starkville, the hospital offers a variety of other services to the community, including Baptist Behavioral Health Care, for those with behavioral and mental health problems; an extensive rehabilitation department; and free community education programs for the public.  For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/golden-triangle, or follow us on Facebook @BaptistGoldenTriangle.

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The award recognizes Baptist Anderson’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. Recognized hospitals have demonstrated sustained, top-level performance in quality of care and adherence to guideline recommendations.

“Being recognized by the American College of Cardiology for seven years in a row demonstrates our entire team’s unwavering commitment to excellence for our patients,” said Dr. Jennifer Rodriguez, interventional cardiologist with Cardiovascular Institute of the South and Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center. “For this to happen, every single team member—including our technologists, nurses and providers—must perform at an exceptional level every single day, for every single patient. I am beyond proud to be part of this team and excited to continue finding new ways to bring high-quality care to our community.”

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry immerses hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

The National Cardiovascular Data Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is the global leader in transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. As the preeminent source of professional medical education for the entire cardiovascular care team since 1949, ACC credentials cardiovascular professionals in over 140 countries who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. Through its world-renowned family of JACC Journals, NCDR registries, ACC Accreditation Services, global network of Member Sections, CardioSmart patient resources and more, the College is committed to ensuring a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or follow @ACCinTouch.

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the U.S., in January 2024. Founded by Dr. William Jefferson Anderson in 1928, the hospital became the leader in offering premier medical services in Meridian, Mississippi, with 260 patient beds on its north campus and 140 beds on its south campus. Providing unparalleled care in East Central Mississippi and West Central Alabama, Baptist Anderson offers access to the area’s only cancer center, including radiation oncology and medical oncology services, a level III trauma emergency department with helipad service, advanced intensive care and cardiac care units, an obstetrics program with a level III newborn ICU, an inpatient pediatric center, a medically based fitness center and a network of primary care, specialty and rural health clinics. For more information, visit www.andersonregional.org or follow us on Facebook.

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Chartis’ annual Top 100 award recognizes rural hospitals that demonstrate outstanding performance based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX. The INDEX uses publicly available data to evaluate financial and operational success.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of the top rural hospitals in the country,” said Susan Breeden, chief executive officer and administrator of Baptist Carroll County. “This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team to providing high-quality care to our community.”

Hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations and state offices of rural health nationwide use the INDEX to measure and monitor performance across key areas that affect hospital operations and financial stability.

“The Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals Award Program elevates the very best performers and helps create a roadmap for those seeking to improve financial and operational performance while continuing to care for the communities they serve,” said Michael Topchik, executive director of the Chartis Center for Rural Health. “This is our 10^th year recognizing the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals and we are thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year’s winners.”

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical care to West Tennessee in a variety of specialized areas, including cardiac care, pediatrics, general surgery, physical therapy and palliative care, among others. The 70-bed facility is located in Huntingdon, Tennessee, and offers advanced medical technology, such as 3D mammography, and the Baptist TeleHealth Center, which uses TeleGuardian. Baptist Carroll County is the recipient of many awards and accolades, including the Tennessee Quality Award, Premier Inc.’s QUEST Award for High-Valued Healthcare, the Quest Hero Award, Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in 2015 and top grades from the Leapfrog Group for hospital safety. For more information, visit baptistonline.org/carrollcounty or follow us on Facebook at @BaptistCarrollCounty.

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The award recognizes experts in patient experience who are committed to delivering superior quality, safety and service to the patients and families they serve.

“I am so grateful to receive the United Hero Award,” said LeDuff. “I always try to make sure my patients feel heard. Before I end every visit, I ask if they have any questions or concerns. I really take time to get to know my patients and their families.”

Through the United Hero Award, UnitedHealthcare recognizes health care professionals who have achieved target scores in the following three categories of patient experience, which reflect the knowledge, compassion and excellence associated with transforming the patient experience:

• Getting needed care
• Care coordination
• Doctor-patient conversations

At UnitedHealthcare, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We dedicate ourselves to this every day for our members by being there for what matters in moments big and small — from their earliest days to their working years and through retirement.

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, named the No. 1 hospital in Mississippi six years in a row by U.S. News & World Report, signed a shared mission agreement with Baptist Memorial Health Care in May 2017, making Baptist Memorial one of Mississippi’s largest employers and the largest health care system in the state. MBMC has 638 licensed beds and is home to Baptist Cancer Center, a six-level tower housing the Cardiovascular Center and Baptist for Women. MBMC received 13 High Performing ratings for congestive heart failure; colon cancer surgery; diabetes; heart attack; hip replacement; kidney failure; knee replacement; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; neurology and neurosurgery; pneumonia; prostate cancer surgery; stroke; and urology from U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/jackson or follow us on www.facebook.com/mississippibaptistmedicalcenter.

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Press Ganey HX Guardian of Excellence Award winners rank in the top 5% of health care providers for delivering superior employee experience in ambulatory care and behavioral health and exceptional physician experience in the hospital.

“We are honored to be recognized by Press Ganey for creating a positive and supportive environment. This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment by our employees and physicians and our dedication to creating an environment where every individual feels valued and supported," said Rob Coleman, chief executive officer and administrator at Baptist Golden Triangle. "This recognition belongs to our incredible team, whose hard work and empathy make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families every day.”

"In prioritizing the well-being of both their patients and dedicated staff on a daily basis, Baptist Golden Triangle exemplifies dedication to their workforce and the communities they impact," said Patrick T. Ryan, chief executive officer and chairman at Press Ganey. "We applaud the hospital’s compassion, empathetic approach and the genuine human connections they forge within the clinical health care landscape. It is a privilege for us to collaborate with them as we applaud their remarkable accomplishments."

Press Ganey, the leading Human Experience (HX) health care performance improvement company, offers an integrated suite of solutions that address safety, clinical excellence, patient experience and workforce engagement. The company works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care. Press Ganey is a PG Forsta company.

With 323 beds, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is one of the largest regional hospitals affiliated with Baptist Memorial Health Care. More than 100 physicians and surgeons, representing almost every medical specialty, practice at the hospital that offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages. In addition to the Baptist Cancer Center in Columbus and Starkville, the hospital offers a variety of other services to the community, including Baptist Behavioral Health Care, for those with behavioral and mental health problems; an extensive rehabilitation department; and free community education programs for the public. Baptist Golden Triangle is the only hospital in Mississippi and one of only 12 in the U.S. to have achieved straight ‘A’s on Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Score since 2012. For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/golden-triangle, or follow us on Facebook @BaptistGoldenTriangle.

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"It is an honor to be recognized by Press Ganey for creating a positive and supportive environment for our staff and physicians," said Ann Bishop, chief executive officer and administrator of Baptist Booneville. "We know taking care of our team helps them focus on patients and delivering outstanding care, which results in better outcomes and experiences for our community."

"In prioritizing the well-being of both their patients and dedicated staff on a daily basis, Baptist Booneville exemplifies dedication to their workforce and the communities they impact," said Patrick T. Ryan, chief executive officer and chairman at Press Ganey. "We applaud the hospital’s compassion, empathetic approach and the genuine human connections they forge within the clinical health care landscape. It is a privilege for us to collaborate with them as we applaud their remarkable accomplishments."

Press Ganey, the leading Human Experience (HX) health care performance improvement company, offers an integrated suite of solutions that address safety, clinical excellence, patient experience and workforce engagement. The company works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care. Press Ganey is a PG Forsta company.

Baptist Booneville offers general surgery, critical care, diagnostic services, outpatient cancer services and other acute care services. The hospital operates one of the few geriatric psychiatric units in the area, as well as an Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health Unit and Sleep Disorders Lab. It also features a specialty clinic that includes ophthalmology services. For more information, please call 662-720-500 or visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/booneville.

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Press Ganey HX Guardian of Excellence Award winners rank in the top 5% of health care providers for delivering superior employee and physician experience in the hospital.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Press Ganey for creating a positive and supportive environment for our staff and physicians," said Ann Bishop, chief executive officer and administrator of Baptist Union County. "We know taking care of our team helps them focus on patients and delivering outstanding care, which results in better outcomes and experiences for our community."

"In prioritizing the well-being of both their patients and dedicated staff on a daily basis, Baptist Union County exemplifies dedication to their workforce and the communities they impact," said Patrick T. Ryan, chief executive officer and chairman at Press Ganey. "We applaud the hospital’s compassion, empathetic approach and the genuine human connections they forge within the clinical health care landscape. It is a privilege for us to collaborate with them as we applaud their remarkable accomplishments."

Press Ganey, the leading Human Experience (HX) health care performance improvement company, offers an integrated suite of solutions that address safety, clinical excellence, patient experience and workforce engagement. The company works with more than 41,000 health care facilities in its mission to reduce patient suffering and enhance caregiver resilience to improve the overall safety, quality and experience of care. Press Ganey is a PG Forsta company.

Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, sleep lab, maternity, surgery, robotic surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans, 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned multiple “A” Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group and Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades. Baptist Union County earned five stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the hospital’s quality, outcomes, safety and patient satisfaction. For more information, visit www.baptistonline.org/locations/union-county.

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Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis (Memphis) and Mississippi Baptist Medical Center (Jackson, Mississippi) have been named the No. 1 hospitals in their cities. MBMC was also named the Best Hospital in the state. Four other Mississippi Baptist Memorial hospitals were rated High Performing Hospitals — Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi and Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center. NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was also rated high performing.

“Having seven Baptist Memorial hospitals named to the U.S. News & World Report 2024–25 Best Hospitals list highlights the excellence of our staff and their commitment to consistently providing high-quality care for our communities across the tristate area of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee,” said Dr. Bill Cloud, vice president/chief medical officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “While this is just one of the recognitions our hospitals have received for the care they provide, it demonstrates our staff’s enduring commitment to taking care of patients and providing top-notch care, as well as the quality of our entire health care system.”

Four Baptist Memorial hospitals in Mississippi also received A’s from Leapfrog Group for providing safe care, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded four Mississippi Baptist Memorial hospitals four stars and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Leake five stars, its highest rating for quality. Go to https://www.baptistonline.org/about/accreditations-and-awards for more information about Baptist’s health care awards and accreditations.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Consistently ranking among the top integrated health care networks in the country, Baptist Memorial comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, North and Central Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 5,400 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 1,100 providers; Baptist Cancer Center; home, hospice and psychiatric care; walk-in and urgent care clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system that includes Baptist Health Sciences University and a college of osteopathic medicine. Baptist employs more than 22,000 people, and in fiscal year 2023 contributed more than $465 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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“This Leapfrog grade is a significant achievement for Baptist DeSoto and our team,” said Brian Hogan, CEO/administrator of Baptist DeSoto. “It reflects the quality of care provided at Baptist DeSoto and demonstrates our entire team’s commitment to patients and excellence. While this is only one example of the care we provide, we are proud of this result and what it tells our community and patients about Baptist DeSoto.”

Baptist DeSoto has earned other awards and recognitions from quality and safety organizations in 2024, including being named a U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital for 2024-2025 in six categories and receiving the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain — MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2024 for successfully implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. Baptist DeSoto also earned Cardiac Cath Lab PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognitions.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

“Achieving a ‘B’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Baptist DeSoto,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Baptist DeSoto, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.” 

Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.  

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. For more, follow on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and sign up for their newsletter. 

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto is a 339-bed hospital that offers diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as open-heart surgery and a number of other cardiovascular services. The hospital completed a $19 million emergency department expansion and renovation project in 2018 that added 20,000 square feet to the facility. An 87,000-square-foot, $55 million physician office building opened on the hospital campus in July 2022. The hospital was recognized by Premier Inc. with the 2021 Premier QUEST Hero Award, U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital, and the American Heart Association for cardiac and stroke care. For more information, please call 662-772-4000, visit desoto.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook at @baptistmemorialhospital-desoto. 

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MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 7, 2024 – Dr. Raymond Osarogiagbon, chief scientist for Baptist Memorial Health Care and director of the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program and the Thoracic Oncology Research Group at Baptist Cancer Center, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

FASCO recognizes ASCO members for their extraordinary volunteer service, significant contributions to the specialty of oncology and extraordinary dedication to improving outcomes for cancer patients. Osarogiagbon was one of 50 members worldwide to earn the FASCO designation in 2024.

“I am delighted to be honored as a fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology,” said Dr. Osarogiagbon. “To work alongside other scientists and physicians through organizations, such as ASCO, to collectively advance cancer science and precision oncology to benefit patients is a true privilege. This honor is also a testament to the impressive outcomes of the Mid-South Miracle and the other innovative work we’re doing at Baptist.”

Osarogiagbon has been a member of ASCO since 2002. His roles with ASCO have included serving as chair of the ASCO Research Committee from 2023–24 and chair of the 2024 ASCO Quality Symposium. In addition to ASCO, Osarogiagbon has served in leadership positions for several other national and international professional organizations, including the Fleischner Society, National Lung Cancer Roundtable, National Cancer Institute’s board of scientific advisors and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging and Prognostic Factors Group chair-elect. He has also served as board chair of the Hope Foundation for Cancer Research.

At Baptist, Dr. Osarogiagbon spearheads the Mid-South Miracle, a multifaceted initiative comprising seven components to reduce lung cancer deaths in the Mid-South 25% by 2030. A community oncologist, Osarogiagbon serves as primary investigator for the Baptist Memorial Health Care/Mid-South Minority Underserved NCI Community Oncology Research Program. He is also a research professor at Vanderbilt University.

The FASCO recognition, which originated in 2007 as the ASCO Statesman Award, has been conferred on 399 individuals up to 2023. Founded in 1964, ASCO has more than 45,000 active members­ — oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Once conferred, the FASCO recognition is for life.

Baptist Cancer Center provides world-class cancer care close to home throughout Baptist Memorial Health Care’s tristate service area of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, Baptist Cancer Center offers treatment, research, support services, community education and the area's first genetic counseling and testing program for cancer. Baptist Cancer Center also has the Mid-South's first adult myelosuppression unit and is one of only 45 National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program institutions, as well as one of 13 institutions distinguished as a site to spearhead clinical research on disparities through NCORP. In 2019, Baptist Cancer Center was awarded a second $9 million research grant under NCORP to build a clinical trials infrastructure across the Mid-South. In 2020, Baptist Memorial Health Care launched the Mid-South Miracle, a multifaceted initiative aimed at reducing lung cancer deaths in the Mid-South 25% by 2030. For more information, please visit baptistcancercenter.com, or follow us on Facebook at @baptistcancercenter.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 16, 2024 – U.S. News & World Report has named Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis the No. 1 hospital in the Memphis metropolitan area and the No. 2 hospital in Tennessee in U.S. News’ 2024–2025 edition of Best Hospitals.

U.S. News evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions; only 11% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors, such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.

 “Recognition from U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Memphis is a great honor and compliment to our team,” said Paul Cade, administrator and CEO of Baptist Memphis. “Our staff at Baptist Memphis is excellent and works diligently to provide top-quality care for all patients. I am proud of our team and the lifesaving care they provide.”

Baptist Memphis was also recognized with 14 High Performing ratings for heart bypass surgery; congestive heart failure; colon cancer surgery; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); diabetes; heart attack; hip replacement; kidney failure; knee replacement; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; lung cancer surgery, pneumonia; stroke; and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

“For 35 years, U.S. News has been a leading resource for patients navigating their health care decisions,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A 'Best Hospital' recognition empowers patients to seek out medical care from the best of the best to treat their illness or condition.”

U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance using a variety of measures, such as survival rates, complication rates, patient experience and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals methodology factors in data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, professional organizations and medical specialists.

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, a 706-bed hospital located on an 80-acre medical campus in Memphis, Tennessee, is the flagship hospital of Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the country. Named as the Best Regional Hospital in Memphis by U.S. News & World Report from 2021 to 2023, it serves as a major referral center for patients from across the Mid-South and has the only certified adult heart transplant and adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) programs in the Mid-South. The hospital also offers specialty, diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services. According to HealthGrades, an independent health care ratings organization, Baptist Memphis’ cardiac surgery, stroke, gastrointestinal, pulmonary and critical care programs were among the top 5% in the nation in 2009, resulting in the facility receiving Specialty Excellence awards. For more information, go to https://www.baptistonline.org/locations/memphis, or call 901-226-5000.

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Foundry’s CIO recognized Baptist for its cloud-based disaster recovery strategy that allows physicians and patients to access electronic health records from anywhere in the world. The EHR, created in four months, is the second largest electronic health record system in the cloud and supports the continuity of health care during environmental risks, such as earthquakes, floods and tornados.

“I am proud of our IS team and their support of our mission at Baptist Memorial Health Care to provide high-quality care for patients,” said  Baptist Memorial Health Care's Chief Information and Digital Officer Tom Barnett. “Thanks to their collaboration and talent, they developed a cloud-based disaster recovery strategy in unprecedented time that protects Baptist’s digital infrastructure and patients’ records, as well as ensures the continuity of quality patient care in any situation.”

For more than 25 years, the CIO 100 Awards has recognized innovative organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of strategic and operational excellence in IT. CIO will celebrate and recognize winners at the CIO 100 Awards & Symposium in August.

“The CIO 100 Symposium & Awards continues a tradition of over 25 years of the highest quality content for IT leaders and their teams,” said Elizabeth Cutler, content director, CIO 100 Symposium & Awards. “In addition to celebrating 100 organizations during the dinner and awards ceremony, I am thrilled to feature many of these IT leaders as speakers. The award-winning teams share a passion for excellence, a customer-centric mindset and a drive to invest in technologies that elevate business value.”

CIO focuses on attracting the highest concentration of enterprise CIOs and business technology executives with unparalleled peer insight and expertise on business strategy, innovation and leadership. As organizations grow with digital transformation, CIO provides its readers with key insights on career development, including certifications, hiring practices and skills development. The award-winning CIO portfolio provides business technology leaders with analysis and insight on information technology trends and a keen understanding of IT’s role in achieving business goals. CIO is published by Foundry, an IDG Inc. Company. Company information is available at www.foundryco.com.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is one of the country’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest provider of Medicaid in the region. Baptist offers a full continuum of care to communities throughout the Mid-South and consistently ranks among the top integrated health care networks in the country. The health care system comprises 24 affiliate hospitals in West Tennessee, Mississippi and East Arkansas; a freestanding emergency department; more than 5,400 affiliated physicians; Baptist Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with more than 900 providers; home, hospice and psychiatric care; minor medical centers and clinics; a network of surgery, rehabilitation and other outpatient centers; and an education system highlighted by Baptist Health Sciences University (formerly Baptist College of Health Sciences). Baptist employs more than 21,000 people, and in fiscal year 2020 contributed more than $455 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.com.

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Baptist Memorial Health Care announced the winners of its Advanced Practice Provider Awards on Sept. 22, 2023, and named Ashley House Advanced Practice Practitioner of the Year for Clinics and Brittnie Weatherford Bird Advanced Practice Practitioner of the Year for Hospitals.

The Advanced Practice Provider Awards are presented annually to advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists or physician assistants, who demonstrate excellence in collaboration and have made noteworthy contributions to providing high-quality patient care and furthering Baptist’s mission of healing, preaching and teaching.

“Baptist would not be able to provide high-quality care if it weren’t for our dedicated team members who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve patients,” said Amanda Comer, system director, advanced practice providers. “We’re pleased to recognize Ashley and Brittnie for their outstanding contributions to patient care and Baptist on a daily basis.”

House is a clinical nurse specialist with NEA Baptist Internal Medicine. As a CNS, she is an advanced practice registered nurse trained in advanced physiology, pharmacology and physical assessment. During her 15 years with NEA Baptist, she has helped diagnose and treat acute chronic illness with an emphasis on specialist care for at-risk patients or populations. She also helped form the NEA Baptist APP council where she mentors new APPs and has formed a successful onboarding process that she presented at national and regional APP meetings.

Bird is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City. She has been with Baptist Union City for six years and has played a vital role in the success of surgeries and management of complex patients. She recently demonstrated her commitment to patients by volunteering to help with wound care during a recent tornado.