When people think of America’s top hospitals, it’s often the famous “brand names” that come to mind, those known specifically for research prestige or clinical performance. But the Lown Hospitals Index takes a broader view, ranking institutions on their overall social responsibility and including deep assessments of equity and value in addition to traditional outcomes measures.
This approach surfaces unexpected winners. The hospitals may not be marquee names, but they earn high marks for being community-focused and delivering on what matters most to patients. Together, they represent a new movement in healthcare, where excellence is measured not only inside the hospital walls but in the impact felt across neighborhoods and communities.
Despite economic pressures, an unpredictable policy landscape, and workforce challenges, these hospitals prove that social responsibility is both possible and essential. They show that true excellence can mean fair wages for staff, inclusive care for diverse populations, and a steadfast commitment to patients over profits.
Here are the #1 hospitals in each state, according to the 2025 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.
| State | Hospital | City |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Central Peninsula Hospital | Soldotna |
| Alabama | Brookwood Baptist Medical Center | Vestavia |
| Arkansas | Unity Health – White Country Medical Center | Searcy |
| Arizona | Banner Goldfield Medical Center | Apache Junction |
| California | Southern California Hospital at Hollywood | Hollywood |
| Colorado | Denver Health Main Campus | Denver |
| Connecticut | Sharon Hospital | Sharon |
| DC | MedStar Washington Hospital Center | Washington, DC |
| Delaware | Saint Francis Hospital | Wilmington |
| Florida | HCA Florida Fort Walton – Destin Hospital | Fort Walton Beach |
| Georgia | Emory University Hospital | Atlanta |
| Hawaii | The Queen’s Medical Center | Honolulu |
| Iowa | UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital | Cedar Rapids |
| Idaho | West Valley Medical Center | Caldwell |
| Illinois | RUSH University Medical Center | Chicago |
| Indiana | Northwest Health – Starke | Knox |
| Kansas | Providence Medical Center | Kansas City |
| Kentucky | Saint Joseph East | Lexington |
| Louisiana | LCMC Health Touro | New Orleans |
| Massachusetts | Baystate Wing Hospital | Palmer |
| Maryland | UMMC Midtown Campus | Baltimore |
| Maine | York Hospital | York |
| Michigan | Grayling Hospital | Grayling |
| Minnesota | Olmsted Medical Center | Rochester |
| Missouri | Christian Hospital | Saint Louis |
| Mississippi | Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto | Southhaven |
| Montana | St. Vincent Regional Hospital | Billings |
| North Carolina | Duke Regional Hospital | Durham |
| North Dakota | Sanford Medical Center – Bismarck | Bismarck |
| Nebraska | Bellevue Medical Center | Bellevue |
| New Hampshire | Southern NH Medical Center | Nashua |
| New Jersey | Inspira Medical Center Vineland | Vineland |
| New Mexico | Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center | Santa Fe |
| Nevada | North Vista Hospital | North Las Vegas |
| New York | New York-Presbyterian Queens | Flushing |
| Ohio | East Liverpool City Hospital | East Liverpool |
| Oklahoma | Stillwater Medical Center | Stillwater |
| Oregon | Adventists Health Portland | Portland |
| Pennsylvania | St. Luke’s Hospital – Upper Bucks Campus | Quakertown |
| Rhode Island | Westerly Hospital | Westerly |
| South Carolina | Prisma Health Baptist Hospital | Columbia |
| South Dakota | Monument Health Rapid City Hospital | Rapid City |
| Tennessee | Fort Loudoun Medical Center | Lenoir City |
| Texas | Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Pflugerville | Pflugerville |
| Utah | LDS Hospital | Salt Lake City |
| Virginia | Sentara RMH Medcial Center | Harrisonburg |
| Vermont | Southwestern Vermont Medical Center | Bennington |
| Washington | St. Clare Hospital | Lakewood |
| Wisconsin | Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital | Portage |
| West Virginia | United Hospital Center | Bridgeport |
| Wyoming | Saint John’s Health | Jackson |