America’s most ‘socially responsible’ hospital is in the Triangle. Here’s where in NC
The most socially responsible hospital in the country is in the Triangle, according to a new ranking published this week.
The Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, has released its annual list of the most socially responsible hospitals in America. Duke Regional Hospital in Durham was ranked #1 of the 3,600 hospitals evaluated. Only 54 hospitals made the list.
Duke earned the highest score across three main categories: equity, value and outcomes.
More than 50 other hospitals received “A” rankings.
Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion, NC came in at #10. No other NC hospitals appeared on 54-spot list.
Duke has been on the Lown Institute’s honor roll for three years in a row.
Ranking: Duke wins most socially responsible hospital in America
“Good hospitals make their patients healthier, but socially responsible hospitals make their communities healthier too,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute, in a press release.
“These are the hospitals America needs right now — hospitals that can set and achieve ambitious goals for serving their entire community.”
To determine their winners, the Lown Index uses data that’s publicly available from Medicare and Medicare Advantage claims, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ hospital cost reports, Internal Revenue Service Form 990 and other sources.
You can read the report at 2023.lownhospitalsindex.org.
CEO pay considered for socially responsible hospitals in NC, across USA
This ranking also considered CEO pay as a ranking factor.
“Top performance on social responsibility measures does not require excessive CEO pay,” the report found.
Duke Regional Medical Center’s CEO earned approximately $700,000 in 2020, while UNC Health Southeastern paid its CEO nearly $1.25 million. UNC hospital ranked 3,350th.
Overall, the report found 70% of “honor roll” hospitals with data available paid their executives less than average when compared to hospitals of similar size.
Hospital grades in Raleigh, Durham NC
Here are the top 10 North Carolina hospitals, according to the Lown Institute’s latest report:
- Duke Regional Hospital (Durham)
- Mission Hospital McDowell (Marion)
- WakeMed Raleigh Campus (Raleigh)
- Hoke Hospital (Raeford)
- Atrium Health Lincoln (Lincolnton)
- Atrium Health Cabarrus (Concord)
- Sentara Albemarle Medical Center (Elizabeth City)
- UNC Heath Caldwell (Lenoir)
- Atrium Health University City (Charlotte)
- Atrium Health Cleveland (Shelby)
And the top five hospital systems in the state:
- Duke University Health System received an ‘A’ score overall.
- WakeMed Health and Hospitals received an ‘A’ score overall.
- Sentara Healthcare received an ‘A’ score overall.
- HCA Healthcare received an ‘A’ score overall.
- Cone Health received a ‘B’ score overall.
Learn more about the Lown Institute’s rankings of NC hospitals by visiting lownhospitalsindex.org/rankings/?state=NC. You can filter to sub-regions, including the Raleigh or Durham areas.
This story was originally published July 18, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
