OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (March 11, 2026) – HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider, announced today that five of its hospitals have earned the 2026 Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award™. Research Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center and Belton Regional Medical Center received the distinction, placing them among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety and reflecting HCA Midwest Health’s ongoing commitment to safe, high-quality patient care. HCA Midwest Health is part of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services.
HCA Midwest has been the most awarded health system for Patient Safety by Healthgrades in the Kansas City region for the past five consecutive years (2022 – 2026).
“Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life, and patient safety is fundamental to our mission,” said HCA Midwest Health President Keith Zimmerman. “Being recognized by Healthgrades reflects the exceptional work of our physicians, nurses and colleagues who focus every day on delivering safe, high-quality care for the patients and communities we serve across the Kansas City region.”
“Our physicians and care teams use data, evidence-based practices and constant collaboration to reduce risk and improve outcomes for patients,” said Chief Medical Officer Eric Benink, MD. “That daily clinical discipline is what drives safer care across our hospitals.”
HCA Midwest Health’s achievement is based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine the national leaders in patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across 13 patient safety indicators (PSIs), with each PSI representing a serious, preventable complication.
HCA Healthcare’s Patient Safety Organization (PSO), established more than a decade ago, is dedicated to improving patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery by partnering with HCA Healthcare facilities to build systems, refine processes and foster a culture of safety. Intentionally focusing on protecting conversations around patient safety, the PSO holds an annual, enterprise-wide “Safe Table” campaign to encourage all colleagues to share concerns and ideas related to the delivery of safe, quality care. Ninety-two HCA Healthcare hospitals have achieved the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades, given to the top 5/10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety for their commitment to safe, patient-centered care.
Healthgrades’ annual analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving facilities, making it increasingly important for consumers to seek care at a hospital with top safety ratings. During the 2022-2024 study period, 167,228 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients at U.S. hospitals, with four PSIs accounting for nearly 78% of all incidents. Patients treated at HCA Midwest Health hospitals and other award-winning facilities had a profoundly lower risk of experiencing these leading complications:
- In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4% less likely)
- Collapsed lung due to a procedure in or around the chest (57.5% less likely)
- Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8% less likely)
- Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9% less likely
“The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, MPH, medical adviser at Healthgrades. “By prioritizing evidence-based safety practices, HCA Midwest Health hospitals are achieving better clinical outcomes and cultivating a culture where patients come first.”
HCA Midwest Health Hospitals Recognized with Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award
Research Medical Center
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 7 Consecutive Years (2020 – 2026)
Centerpoint Medical Center
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 9 Consecutive Years (2018 – 2026)
Menorah Medical Center
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 9 Consecutive Years (2018 – 2026)
Lee’s Summit Medical Center
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 5 Consecutive Years (2022 – 2026)
Belton Regional Medical Center
- Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 3 Consecutive Years (2024 – 2026)
Where you’re treated matters, which is why Healthgrades is committed to providing the most scientifically accurate information about doctors and hospitals – with data insights not available anywhere else. For additional guidance on finding safe, high-quality care in 2026, visit healthgrades.com.
*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence Award Methodology, which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2025.0.1) to MedPAR data from approximately 4,500 hospitals for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
About HCA Midwest Health
As the Kansas City area’s largest healthcare provider, HCA Midwest Health comprises seven hospitals and dozens of outpatient centers, clinics, physician practices, surgery centers, and other facilities and services to meet residents’ healthcare needs. HCA Midwest Health is one of the area’s largest employers, with more than 10,000 colleagues and a local economic impact of more than $1.4 billion annually. That includes more than $102 million annually in charity and uncompensated care and more than $200 million in federal, state, and local taxes to help improve the schools, roads, and infrastructure of the communities we serve. HCA Midwest Health facilities include Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Belton Regional Medical Center, Lafayette Regional Health Center, and Research Psychiatric Center. HCA Midwest Physicians, part of HCA Midwest Health, is a network of experienced, multi-specialty physicians throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area. Currently, HCA Midwest Physicians represents nearly 600 providers. It includes 80+ specialties, providing care in 150+ locations to serve our community. The physicians, licensed professionals, and support staff who comprise the HCA Midwest Health team are dedicated to improving healthcare in the Greater Kansas City and outlying areas to create healthier communities that lead to healthier tomorrows. For more information, visit hcamidwest.com.
About Healthgrades
Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content. For over 20 years, our health system, group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have helped our partners reach and engage consumers on their way to the doctor. Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, the largest consumer health and wellness platform. RVOH’s audience across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central, and Bezzy, touches every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 70 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.