Top U.S. Hospitals Step Up as Access Gaps Widen

Hospitals grapple with rising demand from vulnerable patients amid affordability and access challenges

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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As Americans struggle with affordability, chronic health issues and lack of access to care, hospitals are grappling with how to meet rising demand from vulnerable patients. Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking, done in partnership with Statista, evaluates over 2,500 hospitals globally, with the U.S. having the most hospitals listed at 420, including 37 making their debut. Hospitals like St. Clair Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and Avera St. Luke's Hospital are highlighted for their commitment to quality, community collaboration, and addressing access gaps.

Why it matters

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated longstanding issues around healthcare access and affordability in the U.S., with vulnerable populations facing the biggest challenges. Hospitals are stepping up to meet this growing demand and find innovative ways to deliver high-quality care, especially in underserved rural and urban communities.

The details

The World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking evaluates hospitals based on quality metrics, patient satisfaction, expert recommendations, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). Hospitals like St. Clair Health, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and Avera St. Luke's Hospital are highlighted for their commitment to quality, community collaboration, and addressing access gaps. They are implementing initiatives like electronic health record upgrades, patient feedback programs, and partnerships with local universities to build a pipeline of healthcare workers.

  • The World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking was published on March 4, 2026.
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is new to the ranking this year, debuting at No. 347.
  • Avera St. Luke's Hospital is also making its debut on the ranking, coming in at No. 413.

The players

St. Clair Health

An independent suburban health system in southwestern Pennsylvania that is making its debut on the World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking at No. 330.

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

An academic medical center in North Carolina that is new to the ranking at No. 347, and is part of the larger Atrium Health system.

Avera St. Luke's Hospital

A rural hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota that is debuting on the ranking at No. 413, and is part of the larger Avera integrated health system.

Dr. John T. Sullivan

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Clair Health.

Dr. David Zaas

President and CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Dan Bjerknes

Regional President and CEO of Avera St. Luke's Hospital.

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What they’re saying

“At St. Clair Health, our greatest strength is our people and a long-standing cultural commitment to quality. We have intentionally built an environment where physicians, nurses, and team members are empowered to deliver safe, compassionate, and highly reliable care. That culture—combined with strong clinical performance and accountability—drives consistently high outcomes and patient trust.”

— Dr. John T. Sullivan, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer (Newsweek)

“We bridge the gap between discovery and delivery. Research is not separate from care – it's woven directly into everyday patient care through Wake Forest University School of Medicine, our academic core. We're discovering new breakthroughs and improving patient outcomes every day and I am immensely proud of that.”

— Dr. David Zaas, President and CEO (Newsweek)

“To have that kind of longevity, you must have a strong foundation and be rooted in your mission. But it takes more than that; it takes dedicated employees. We have had employees work for this hospital for 40 to 50 years, and that level of commitment to our patients is something to be proud of.”

— Dan Bjerknes, Regional President and CEO (Newsweek)

What’s next

Avera St. Luke's Hospital will be transitioning to the Epic electronic health record system in May to improve efficiencies, workflows, and patient experience.

The takeaway

The top-ranked U.S. hospitals are demonstrating a deep commitment to addressing longstanding healthcare access and affordability challenges, especially in underserved rural and urban communities. By investing in quality, community collaboration, and innovative solutions, these hospitals are working to close the gap and deliver high-quality care to all patients.