Independence Health System’s Butler Memorial Hospital Orthopedic Program Earns Five-Star Rating from Healthgrades

Butler Memorial Hospital receives top ratings for Outpatient Total Knee Replacement for three years in a row

BUTLER, Pa., Oct.. 28, 2025 –Independence Health System announced today that it has once again achieved national recognition for outpatient orthopedic surgery from Healthgrades, the No. 1 site consumers use to find a doctor or hospital. Among Butler Memorial Hospital’s latest honors is the Five-Star Rating for outpatient total knee replacement – an achievement it has earned for three consecutive years (2024-2026).

These achievements place Butler Memorial Hospital in the upper echelon of hospitals nationwide for outpatient specialty care and reflect the organization’s commitment to delivering high quality care to patients undergoing critical outpatient procedures.

“We’re honored to be recognized among the top in the nation for outpatient total knee replacement,” said Ken DeFurio president and CEO of Independence Health System. “This achievement reflects the collaboration, expertise and compassion of our providers and staff, and underscores our commitment to delivering the highest quality care to the communities we serve.”

To identify the top-performing hospitals for the most common outpatient procedures and conditions, Healthgrades focused exclusively on what matters most: patient outcomes. As part of its 2026 analysis, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates at short-term acute care facilities that perform critical orthopedic procedures in an outpatient environment. 

"Receiving this recognition for outpatient total knee replacement is a reflection of our team’s continued commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centered care,” said Thomas Muzzonigro, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Tri-Rivers Musculoskeletal Centers. “In partnership with Butler Memorial Hospital, we work closely with each patient and their family to ensure they receive expert care, right here, in their community. It’s incredibly rewarding to see those efforts acknowledged on a national level.”

Healthgrades found that patients treated at hospitals with nationally recognized outpatient programs from 2022 through 2024 had a demonstrably better chance of a positive outcome than those treated at hospitals that were not recognized for outpatient excellence. In fact, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to five-star hospitals, on average, 36,678 complications could have been avoidedduring the three-year study period.*

“Healthgrades’ outpatient awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals in some of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare, helping consumers find high quality care tailored to their specific needs,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “Butler Memorial Hospital goes above and beyond to deliver outstanding outcomes for patients undergoing critical outpatient procedures, and we’re proud to recognize it as a national leader in outpatient total knee replacement. 

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of SAF data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. For more information on how Healthgrades identifies the nation’s top hospitals for outpatient orthopedic surgery, see the 2026 Outpatient Awards and Ratings Methodology.  

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Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than 10 counties. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.

About Healthgrades

Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.

For over 20 years, our health system, group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have helped our partners reach and engage consumers on their way to the doctor.

Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central and Bezzy, which touch every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 100 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.