Henry Community Health (HCH) announced today that it has achieved the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital. This award reflects Henry Community Health’s commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety for the second year. 

Cori Morris, HCH Chief Operating Officer, shared that patient safety is not a destination. “It is a discipline we practice every single day. This recognition affirms that our culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and compassionate care is making a real difference in the lives of our patients. We are incredibly proud, and we remain as focused as ever on delivering the safest, highest-quality care our community deserves.” 

“Receiving the Healthgrades Patient Safety Award for the second consecutive year is a testament to the unwavering commitment of every nurse, physician, and team member at this hospital. Safety is our number one operational priority — it drives every decision we make, every process we design, and every standard we hold ourselves to,” said Shelley Wilson, HCH Chief Nursing Officer. 

Henry Community Health’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% of all incidents. Patients treated at Henry Community Health had a profoundly lower risk of experiencing these leading complications: 

  • In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4% less likely) 
  • Collapsed lung due to a procedure in or around the chest (57.5% less likely) 
  • Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8% less likely) 
  • Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9% less likely) 

According to Dr. Alana Biggers of Healthgrades, the data from this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award demonstrates that quantifiable safety improvements can prevent thousands of medical complications. By focusing on evidence-based practices, Henry Community Health has successfully improved clinical outcomes and fostered a patient-centered culture.