Independence Health System Hospitals Among Forbes 2026 Top Hospitals

GREENSBURG, Pa., Feb. 17, 2026 ─  Independence Health System’s Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals have been recognized in Forbes’ inaugural list of 2026 Top Hospitals. 

The methodology of the list was developed in partnership with Inovalon, a healthcare data and analytics firm, and guided by an advisory panel of clinicians, statisticians, health policy researchers and patient advocates. Its goal is to provide consumers with a trusted source for identifying high-quality healthcare facilities in their area, helping them make informed decisions about where to seek care when they need it. 

“This recognition from Forbes is a testament to the dedication our teams bring to patient care every day,” said Brian Fritz, president of Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals. “Our providers and staff continuously strive for excellence, and this achievement affirms the quality, safety, and compassion that characterize the expert care provided at Independence Health System. We are honored to be included among the nation’s top hospitals and remain committed to providing expert care, here.”

Approximately 5,400 general acute hospitals across the United States were evaluated, with 2,600 meeting the inclusion criteria based on validated, data-driven healthcare quality measures extracted from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Data Catalog. The quality measures reviewed included patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value, and patient experience, adjusted for social determinants of health to ensure fair comparisons across diverse communities and patient populations.

Among those 2,600 hospitals:

• 259 received an overall rating of 5 stars 
• 520 hospitals received an overall rating of 4 stars 
• 519 hospitals received an overall rating of 3 stars

To review Forbes’ full list of 2026 Top Hospitals, visit www.forbes.com. To learn more about the services offered at Independence Health System, visit www.independence.health. 

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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 a multi-county region. 

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.