U.S. News Best Hospitals vs. Healthgrades
Both rate hospital quality, but differently. U.S. News Best Hospitals produces specialty rankings plus High Performing ratings using patient outcomes, care-related measures, and a physician reputation survey. Healthgrades rates clinical outcomes only — risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates from Medicare claims — expressed as 1-, 3-, or 5-star ratings by condition and procedure, plus “America’s Best” awards. Healthgrades has no reputation component.
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What each one is
U.S. News Best Hospitals is an annual ranking of specialty excellence (15 ranked adult specialties + 22 High Performing procedures and conditions) that blends measured outcomes, care-related indicators, and a physician reputation survey.
Healthgrades is a consumer healthcare company whose hospital ratings are built purely on clinical outcomes. For its 2025 analysis, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates using tens of millions of Medicare claims at roughly 4,500 hospitals over a recent three-year period, across about 32 conditions and procedures, and issues star ratings plus awards such as America’s 50 Best and 100 Best Hospitals and Specialty Excellence Awards.
Side-by-side comparison
| U.S. News Best Hospitals | Healthgrades | |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Specialty excellence (broad) | Risk-adjusted clinical outcomes |
| Output | Rankings + High Performing ratings | 1/3/5-star ratings + awards |
| Reputation survey? | Yes (one weighted part) | No |
| Data source | Medicare claims, AHA survey, HCAHPS, physician survey | Medicare claims (complications & mortality) |
| Scope | 15 specialties + 22 procedures & conditions | ~32 conditions & procedures |
| Orientation | Specialty reputation & complex care | Consumer-facing outcomes |
What Healthgrades star ratings mean
Healthgrades builds a predictive model of the expected outcome for patients with a given condition or procedure, adjusted for risk factors such as age and comorbidities, then compares actual results to that expectation:
- 5 stars — outcomes statistically better than expected.
- 3 stars — outcomes as expected.
- 1 star — outcomes statistically worse than expected.
Because it is outcomes-only and condition-specific, Healthgrades can rate a hospital differently across procedures — strong in one, average in another.
Why a hospital can shine on one and not the other
They define “best” differently. A hospital can rank nationally with U.S. News on the strength of reputation and broad specialty performance while earning mixed Healthgrades stars if specific complication or mortality outcomes are only average — and a hospital with outstanding, narrowly measured outcomes can win Healthgrades awards without a U.S. News specialty ranking. Reading both gives a fuller picture than either alone.
Which matters for whom
- Patients comparing outcomes for a specific procedure may use Healthgrades; those choosing a top program for complex care often weight U.S. News.
- Quality teams use Healthgrades’ outcome detail to target improvement; marketing and strategy teams track U.S. News for specialty reputation.
- Both shape public perception, so leadership tracks them together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between U.S. News and Healthgrades?
U.S. News produces specialty rankings plus High Performing ratings using outcomes, care measures, and a reputation survey. Healthgrades rates clinical outcomes only — risk-adjusted complications and mortality from Medicare claims — as star ratings and awards, with no reputation component.
What do Healthgrades stars mean?
5 stars = outcomes better than expected, 3 stars = as expected, 1 star = worse than expected, for a given condition or procedure, based on risk-adjusted Medicare outcomes.
Does Healthgrades use a reputation survey?
No — Healthgrades is based solely on risk-adjusted clinical outcomes from Medicare claims. U.S. News includes a physician reputation survey as one weighted component.
Why rank well with U.S. News but not Healthgrades?
They define quality differently. U.S. News rewards specialty excellence and reputation; Healthgrades focuses strictly on risk-adjusted outcomes for specific conditions, so a hospital can be strong on one lens and average on the other.
Track your own outcomes and rankings in one place
Shield Tracker helps hospital teams manage their U.S. News Best Hospitals data submission and follow their own scores, High Performing ratings, gaps, year-over-year trends, and peer benchmarking across every service line.
Schedule a demoSources
- Healthgrades, “Hospital Quality Methodology” and “America’s Best Hospitals.” healthgrades.com
- U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com
Independence & trademarks. Shield Tracker is an independent software product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by U.S. News & World Report or Healthgrades. “U.S. News & World Report” and “Best Hospitals” are trademarks of U.S. News & World Report L.P.; “Healthgrades” is a trademark of Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC. All are used here descriptively for education and commentary. Details reflect the publicly described 2025 programs and are subject to change.