Baystate Wing Hospital Recognized Among Forbes Top Hospitals by State for 2026

PALMER — Baystate Health announced that Baystate Wing Hospital has been named to the inaugural Forbes Top Hospitals by State 2026 list, one of only 15 hospitals in Massachusetts to make this list, earning national recognition and a four-star ranking for delivering compassionate, quality, accessible care.

Based on the Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 national list and ratings system, which assessed general acute-care hospitals across the U.S., this inaugural state list is a subset of the national list and is designed to identify the top hospitals in each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

To be eligible for the state list, hospitals were required to have met the criteria for evaluation on the national list and been given an overall star rating. Both Forbes’ national and state hospital ratings focused on a methodology that is based on validated and vetted healthcare quality measures extracted from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Data Catalog. Specific best-in-class measures assessed patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value, and patient experience. Forbes also chose to highlight the importance of clinical patient outcomes such as mortality, infection, and readmissions in each hospital’s overall rating.

Another important aspect of the foundational methodology is that outcome measures were statistically adjusted to account for social drivers of health (SDOH), including socioeconomic status and access to healthcare services, since SDOH are known to influence disease risk and patient outcomes. By factoring in these SDOH variables alongside clinical health risk factors, the ratings aim to offer a fair and comprehensive comparison of hospital quality, regardless of differences in hospital locations or patient populations.

“Excellent performance in these areas reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering compassionate, quality, and accessible care, advancing our communities’ health for all,” said Karli Barrett, president and chief operating officer of Baystate Wing Hospital. “This honor belongs to the Baystate Wing Hospital team. Their commitment to safety and quality, and relentless focus on providing exceptional care to every patient and family we serve, make the difference. I am deeply grateful to serve alongside such an extraordinary group of caregivers and proud of all we continue to accomplish together.”

The methodology emphasizes nationally recognized standards and prioritizes measurable patient outcomes, helping consumers make informed decisions about their healthcare.