South Central Texas lead by Methodist Healthcare with Patient Safety Distinctions from Healthgrades
San Antonio, Texas — Several Methodist Healthcare hospitals have been recognized as a 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipient by Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. Methodist Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak, and Methodist Hospital | Hill Country were named to the list. This achievement reflects Methodist Healthcare’s clear commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts the health system in the top percentage of hospital nationwide for patient safety.
- Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak: Among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient safety three years in a row (2024-2026)
- Methodist Hospital: Among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient safety two years in a row (2025-2026)
- Methodist Hospital | Hill Country: Among the top 10 percent of hospital nationwide for patient safety (2026)
Methodist Hospital’s designation is based on a data set that includes data from additional Methodist Healthcare hospitals, including Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Northeast, Methodist Hospital | Texsan and Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant.
“Patient safety is at the center of the care we provide. To be recognized across multiple hospitals is a testament to the consistency of our safety practices across the health system and the teamwork of our physicians, nurses and staff who remain focused on delivering safe, patient-centered care for every patient,” said Dr. Parikshet Babber, chief medical officer at Methodist Healthcare.
Methodist Healthcare’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.
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 percent of all incidents. Patients treated at Methodist Healthcare and other award-winning facilities had a profoundly lower risk of experiencing these leading complications:
● In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4 percent less likely)
● Collapsed lung due to a procedure in or around the chest (57.5 percent less likely)
● Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8 percent less likely)
● Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9 percent 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 advisor at Healthgrades. “By prioritizing evidence-based safety practices, Methodist Healthcare is achieving better clinical outcomes and cultivating a culture where patients come first.”
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.
*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.