U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 “Best Hospitals” ranking, showing Norton Healthcare’s adult-service facilities as No. 1 in the Louisville area.

Published: September 26, 2025

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 “Best Hospitals” rankings, showing Norton Healthcare’s adult-service facilities as No. 1 in the Louisville area.

Overall “high performing” ratings were given in the following specialties:

• Back surgery (spinal fusion)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Gynecologic cancer surgery
• Heart bypass surgery
• Hip replacement
• Kidney failure
• Knee replacement
• Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
• Pacemaker implantation
• Prostate cancer surgery
• Stroke

“This No. 1 ranking is a testament to our caregivers and support staff who work tirelessly to provide care for the community,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “While this is certainly a great honor and reflects the work we have done, we constantly look for opportunities that give people access to the health care and services they need.”

Raising the standard with expertise

A system of excellent care means coordinated and advanced care for all patients. These rankings acknowledge the exceptional skills and seamless teamwork across our system from diagnosis and treatment planning to postoperative care and rehabilitation. The advanced training, evidence-based decision-making and coordinated care strategies are at the heart of this success.

These rankings are determined by patient outcomes, patient experience, safety and quality metrics, volume and expertise, and equity of care. Additionally, each recognition has qualifications specific to the condition and patient need.

• Back surgery (spinal fusion), hip and knee replacement, pacemaker, heart bypass
  • These are technically complex procedures that require advanced technology and provider training. Our hospitals have multidisciplinary, skilled surgical teams that deliver lower complication rates and strong postoperative care.
• COPD, kidney failure, stroke
  • These chronic and acute conditions require coordinated, multidisciplinary care and ongoing management. Norton Healthcare has established critical care protocols, timely interventions and effective use of evidence-based guidelines.
• Gynecologic and prostate cancer surgery, leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma
  • Cancer care rankings highlight oncology expertise, surgical precision, lower readmission rates and access to advanced treatments and clinical trials.

Nationally ranked and locally loved

Being ranked “high performing” means Norton Healthcare is in the top tier of hospitals nationwide. Outperforming most peers in safety, outcomes and quality of care means more than winning an award. It means patients in our community can access nationally recognized care locally, across a wide range of critical specialties.