MRH ranked #1 out of 20 critical access in Colorado and #59 nationally on Lown’s patient outcomes metric. The hospital also performed well on Lown’s Nation for Pay Equity and Colorado for Pay Equity metrics. These are independent rankings and hospitals do not apply or pay to be listed.

“Being named one of the top Critical Access Hospital in Colorado by the Lown Institute for clinical outcomes is a tremendous honor,” said Jennifer Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Regional Health. “This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of our entire team to delivering the highest quality care, improving patient health, and championing equitable outcomes across our rural communities. In an era of rising challenges in healthcare, this distinction shows that excellence and compassion can—and must—remain at the heart of everything we do.”

“Achieving excellent patient outcomes requires leadership, communication, and a commitment to keep improving,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “It’s a difficult task, but the hospitals at the top of our list show that it can be done.”

Lown’s patient outcomes score reflects hospitals’ performance on all-cause mortality and readmissions, avoidance of adverse events such as falls and hospital-acquired infections, and patient experience metrics such as cleanliness and provider communication. Data sources are Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data, and CMS patient experience survey data.

Memorial Regional Health believes informed patients make empowered decisions—which is why patient outcomes data is shared publicly. From recovery times to complication rates and satisfaction scores, MRH aims to provide full transparency about the quality and effectiveness of care. Learn more at www.memorialregionalhealth.com/resources/patient-outcomes

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the sixth annual rankings, the 2025-26 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms, among others. Full methodology can be found on the Lown Index website.

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.