Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 28: Healthgrades has announced the recipients of its 2027 Specialty Excellence Awards and Specialty State Rankings, recognising hospitals across the United States for their performance in specialty care and outpatient procedures.
The annual awards aim to help patients identify hospitals with strong clinical outcomes and make informed decisions about where to seek treatment. The announcement was made on October 27.
According to Healthgrades research, around 80% of patients consider the quality of the hospital where a doctor practises when choosing a healthcare provider. About 68% said they were more likely to seek treatment from a doctor affiliated with a highly rated hospital, while 71% said they would consider switching doctors to access a better-rated facility.
Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades, said the awards identify hospitals delivering strong outcomes across various medical specialties and help patients find care suited to their needs. She stressed the importance of informed decision-making and patient involvement in healthcare.
Healthgrades estimated that 227,229 lives could potentially have been saved and 158,138 complications avoided between 2023 and 2025 if all hospitals had performed at the five-star level during that period.
Biggers highlighted challenges facing healthcare providers, including workforce shortages, administrative responsibilities, financial pressures and the increasing complexity of patient care. She said adequate staffing, clinical support and effective coordination were essential to improving patient outcomes.
She also pointed to barriers to accessing quality healthcare, including geographical distance, transportation difficulties, insurance coverage and financial constraints. Expanding outpatient services, strengthening community partnerships, using telehealth where appropriate and improving coordination among healthcare providers could help address some of these challenges.
The 2027 awards cover three categories. The Specialty Excellence Awards recognise hospitals for clinical performance across 19 specialty care areas, while the Outpatient Awards honour hospitals excelling in outpatient orthopaedic surgery, joint replacement and prostate care. The Specialty State Rankings identify high-performing hospitals across 19 specialties in eligible states.
Healthgrades evaluated patient outcomes at approximately 4,500 hospitals across 31 common procedures and conditions. The top-performing facilities are recognised through specialty awards, including America's 100 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care in 11 areas and America's 50 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care in four areas.
The growing demand for outpatient treatment was another focus of the report. Between 2020 and 2025, outpatient hip replacement procedures in the US increased by 81%, while inpatient procedures declined by 75%. Outpatient knee replacements rose by 71%, compared with a 70% decline in inpatient procedures.
Biggers attributed the trend to advances in medical technology, greater emphasis on preventive care and the ability to perform procedures safely without requiring hospital admission. She emphasised that adequate staffing and coordination between outpatient providers, specialists and hospitals remain crucial to maintaining quality care.
The Specialty State Rankings identify the top three or five hospitals in eligible states across 19 specialty areas. The assessment was based on clinical performance using Medicare inpatient data from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services covering 2023 to 2025.
Healthgrades said its awards and rankings are intended to support patients in comparing healthcare options. However, hospital ratings should complement clinical advice and informed decision-making rather than replace professional medical guidance.