St. David’s Healthcare facilities earn top rating for patient safety from Healthgrades

Austin, Texas — St. David’s HealthCare announced today that all of its hospitals received a 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades for providing exceptional, patient-centered care. This distinction places St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center among the top 5% of hospitals — and St. David’s Medical Center (including Heart Hospital of Austin and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital) among the top 10% of hospitals for their commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care.

“Patient safety is at the center of every decision we make, from the bedside to the systems that support care across our hospitals,” David Huffstutler, president and chief executive officer of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “This recognition reflects the focus and consistency our physicians, nurses and staff bring to their work every day.”

Recognition on this list is based solely on patient outcomes. To determine the top-performing hospitals for patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates for approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. The annual study found patients treated in hospitals that received the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award have a significantly lower chance of experiencing certain complications than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.

Earlier this year, St. David’s Medical Center (including Heart Hospital of Austin and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital) was recognized among the 2026 Healthgrades America's 100 Best Hospitals list for being in the top 2% of hospitals in the country for clinical excellence. St. David’s North Austin Medical Center was named on the 2026 Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals list for being within the top 5% of hospitals in the country for clinical excellence. Also based exclusively on patient outcomes, these annual designations are reserved for hospitals who demonstrate superior performance in providing care for conditions and procedures across multiple specialty lines and areas.

As one of the largest health systems in Texas, St. David’s HealthCare continuously shares new clinical protocols with its hospitals, as well as the broader healthcare industry, to improve patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery.

To learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality, visit Healthgrades.