Lakes Regional Healthcare Earns 5-Star Communication Ratings

Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) has earned five-star ratings for both nurse and physician communication, according to the most recent Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review. LRH is one of only 183 hospitals nationwide, and one of just eight in Iowa, to achieve five stars in both categories.

The HCAHPS survey is a standardized, national tool used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to measure patients' experiences during a hospital stay. The nurse and physician communication scores reflect how clearly, respectfully, and attentively patients felt their care team listened to them and explained their care, based on surveys of patients treated at LRH between July 2024 and June 2025.

“Our team hears from patients every single day about how much it matters to feel truly listened to. This recognition belongs to every nurse and physician who took the extra time to explain a diagnosis, answer a question, or simply sit down and talk with a patient and their family.” said LRH President and CEO Jason Harrington.

For families across Dickinson County and the northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota region, LRH leaders say the recognition reflects an everyday commitment to treating every patient like a neighbor, not a number.

This distinction highlights the patient experience side of care specifically and is one of several measures CMS tracks for hospitals nationwide. LRH remains focused on strengthening quality and safety across every part of the hospital and views this recognition as both an affirmation of its care teams and motivation to keep improving.