Mayo Clinic Health System defines quality as a comprehensive look at all aspects of a patient's experience. We are proud of our staff for being top ranked and rated high in many quality and safety endorsements.

These endorsements reinforce our commitment to provide the highest quality care to each patient every day. Although no single set of measures can perfectly represent health care quality, we are proud to be recognized for:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Star Rating
• Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
• Minnesota Department of Health Continuous Impact Award
• Newsweek World's Best Hospitals
• The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
• University of Wisconsin Award of Hope and Excellence in Tissue Donation Award
• U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals
• U.S. News & World Report Best Maternity Hospitals
• Vizient Clinical Excellence Performance Award

Get details about these awards specific to Mayo Clinic Health System locations in our Press Room.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating

The star rating summarizes a variety of measures across five areas of quality into a single rating for each hospital. CMS uses star rating for consumers to choose highly rated hospitals and other providers in their area. These Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals made the list:

• Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Recognized as a five-star hospital
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Recognized as a five-star hospital
• Mankato, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Menomonie, Wisconsin: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Red Wing, Minnesota: Recognized as a five-star hospital

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Star Rating

The star rating is based on data from patient experience surveys. Hospitals received ratings of 1 to 5 stars, with 5-stars being the highest score. HCAHPS star ratings help consumers choose highly rated hospitals in their area. These Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals made the list:

• Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Barron, Wisconsin: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Bloomer, Wisconsin: Recognized as a five-star hospital
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Fairmont, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Mankato, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Menomonie, Wisconsin: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• New Prague, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital
• Red Wing, Minnesota: Recognized as a four-star hospital

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Hospitals receive a letter grade rating based on collected, analyzed and published hospital data on safety and quality to help patients determine how safe hospitals are. These Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals meet the requirements for eligibility in the Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Score and earned "A" grades, the best possible, for patient safety:

• Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Fairmont, Minnesota
• La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Mankato, Minnesota
• Red Wing, Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Health Continuous Impact Award

This award aims to recognize and highlight successful quality improvement initiatives throughout the state of Minnesota's hospital-based stroke programs. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

• Albert Lea, Minnesota: Recognized for long-term improvements in the quality of stroke care
• Austin, Minnesota: Recognized for long-term improvements in the quality of stroke care
• Cannon Falls, Minnesota: Recognized for long-term improvements in the quality of stroke care
• Lake City, Minnesota: Recognized for long-term improvements in the quality of stroke care
• Red Wing, Minnesota: Recognized for long-term improvements in the quality of stroke care

Newsweek World's Best Hospitals

The ranking is based on patient satisfaction survey results; hospital recommendations from peers and key performance metrics, such as patient safety, hygiene measures and quality of care; as well as their consistent excellence, including distinguished physicians, top-notch nursing care and state-of-the-art technology. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

• Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota: Ranked among the top 5% of hospitals in the U.S.
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Ranked No. 65 and among the top 2% of hospitals in the U.S., receiving an above-average rating for infection prevention measures
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Ranked in the top 250 and among the top 5% of hospitals in the U.S., receiving an above-average rating for infection prevention measures

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

This program praises a select group of hospitals for achieving a commendable composite score in either an "All Cases" category or a category which includes only "High Risk" cases, based on outstanding quality scores in eight areas of surgical care. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Recognized on the "All Cases" list
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Recognized on the "High Risk" cases list

University of Wisconsin Award of Hope and Excellence in Tissue Donation Award

The Award of Hope in gold, bronze or silver recognizes the comprehensive work of hospitals that achieve or exceed the percent of medically eligible donors that become actual donors and organs transplanted per donor. The Excellence in Tissue Donation Award is given to hospitals for the collaborative work between hospital staff and the tissue bank in coordinating communication around tissue consent conversations. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Gold Award of Hope + Excellence in Tissue Donation Award
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Excellence in Tissue Donation Award

U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals

The rankings and ratings are measured on factors such as survival, experience, nurse staffing, advance technology, patient services, and reputation with other specialists. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

• Barron, Wisconsin: Rated high performing in hip fracture
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Recognized as a "Best Regional Hospital" in Northwest Wisconsin, and rated high performing in 11 conditions and specialties
• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Rated high performing in 5 conditions and specialties
• Mankato, Minnesota: Recognized as a “Best Regional Hospital” in Southwest Minnesota, and rated high performing in 7 conditions and specialties
• New Prague, Minnesota: Minnesota: Rated high performing in hip fracture
• Red Wing, Minnesota: Rated high performing in hip fracture

U.S. News & World Report Best Maternity Hospitals

The ratings evaluate hospital birth centers on early deliveries, C-section rates in low-risk women, newborn complications, rate of exclusive breast milk feeding and option for vaginal births after cesarean. This Mayo Clinic Health System location made the list:

• La Crosse, Wisconsin: Rated high-performing in adult maternity care

Vizient Clinical Performance Award

The rankings measure clinical quality of patient care for mortality, efficiency, effectiveness, patient centeredness, safety and equity. These Mayo Clinic Health System locations made the list:

Among 148 complex care medical centers:

• Eau Claire, Wisconsin — Ranked No. 17
• Mankato, Minnesota— Ranked No. 15
• La Crosse, Wisconsin — Ranked No. 7

Among 268 community hospitals:

• Fairmont, Minnesota — Ranked No. 22
• Red Wing, Minnesota — Ranked No. 12