CHI Health Nebraska Heart Earns 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award From Healthgrades
CHI Health Nebraska Heart announced today it has been named a 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ recipient by Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital. This achievement reflects Nebraska Heart’s commitment to superior, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience. This is the fourth consecutive year Nebraska Heart has received this recognition, reaffirming the hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing patients in Lincoln and surrounding communities with the highest quality care.
"Achieving this recognition four years in a row is a true testament to the dedication of each individual who works at CHI Health Nebraska Heart, no matter their role,” said Rick Thompson, MD, President, CHI Health Nebraska Heart. “This should assure our patients and their families that when they walk through our doors, they are receiving care from one of the nation's absolute best. I am profoundly proud of our entire staff, whose unwavering compassion and commitment to excellence makes this kind of consistent, patient-centered care not just a goal, but a daily reality for everyone we serve."
About the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award
Each year, Healthgrades recognizes the top hospitals nationwide that provide an exceptional experience for patients during their hospital stay. For its 2026 analysis, Healthgrades evaluated Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey data from nearly 4,000 hospitals across 10 patient experience measures.*
These measures focus on patients’ perceptions of their hospital care, including staff communication, medication explanations, and cleanliness. CHI Health Nebraska Heart’s Outstanding Patient Experience Award is the direct result of positive patient feedback in these critical areas.
"Better patient experiences are correlated with better health outcomes, which is why patients should always strive to seek care at a facility with a clear dedication to high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “As an Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient, CHI Health Nebraska Heart sets the benchmark for patient experience nationwide, ensuring that every patient feels heard, empowered, and confident throughout the care journey.”
Consumers can visit healthgrades.com to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and view the Outstanding Patient Experience Award Methodology. A patient-friendly overview of Healthgrades’ complete methodology is also available here.
*Healthgrades evaluated 3,020 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from January 2024 to December 2024. Hospitals in the bottom 20% for overall clinical quality were excluded from consideration.