PCH Earns #1 state ranking and multiple national distinctions from Healthgrades

November 10, 2025

PRINCETON, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) announced today that it has earned multiple national and state-level distinctions for exceptional clinical performance from Healthgrades, a top website that Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital.

Among PCH’s new recognitions are four Specialty Excellence Awards, placing the hospital among the top performers nationwide in several critical areas of care, including cardiac care, pulmonary care, gastrointestinal care, and critical care.

PCH was recognized as:

  • #1 in West Virginia for Pulmonary Care
  • One of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care
  • Recipient of the Healthgrades 2026 Pulmonary Care Excellence Award
  • Named Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services 

 

In addition, PCH received Five-Star Ratings for excellence in:

  • Treatment of Heart Attack
  • Treatment of Heart Failure (two years in a row)
  • Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (two years in a row)
  • Treatment of Pneumonia (two years in a row)
  • Treatment of Bowel Obstruction
  • Treatment of Sepsis
  • Treatment of Respiratory Failure (two years in a row)

 These awards reflect the dedication, skill, and compassion of our entire team,” said Karen Bowling, PCH president and CEO. “We’ve made major investments in advanced technology, physician recruitment, and quality improvement and it’s rewarding to see that work recognized on both a state and national level. Most importantly, these honors reaffirm that our patients can count on world-class care, right here at home.”

Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance based solely on patient outcomes, specifically mortality and complication rates for more than 30 conditions and procedures nationwide. Through this data-driven analysis, Healthgrades identifies the top-performing hospitals across key specialties.

"Healthgrades’ Specialty Awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals in key service areas, helping consumers find high quality care tailored to their specific needs,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital for its consistently superior outcomes in these essential areas of care.”

Consumers can learn more about how Healthgrades evaluates hospitals and view the full list of 2026 award recipients by visiting healthgrades.com/quality.

About WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital

WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital is leading healthcare in the two Virginias. With 420 physicians and mid-level providers, PCH operates a fully accredited 203-bed acute care medical facility, a 64-bed psychiatric hospital, and an emergency room and outpatient services facility in Bluefield. PCH operates seven primary care clinics, 11 specialty clinics, and three rural imaging clinics offering a wide range of care to a 10-county region.