PCH named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™ for clinical excellence
PRINCETON, W.Va. — WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades, placing the hospital in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical excellence.
This national distinction is based entirely on patient outcomes, not reputation, surveys, or applications. Hospitals cannot opt in or opt out of the evaluation, nor can they submit their own data. PCH did not apply for this recognition, it was earned through performance.
Healthgrades evaluated more than 45 million Medicare medical claims from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide, analyzing outcomes across 31 common conditions and procedures, including heart attack care and total knee replacement. The analysis spans the most recent three-year period available and focuses on what matters most to patients: survival and complication rates.
To qualify for the Top 250 distinction, hospitals must demonstrate consistently strong performance across a broad range of conditions and procedures. Only the top 5% of hospitals nationwide achieve this level of overall clinical excellence.
Healthgrades’ analysis also found that outcomes vary dramatically between the nation’s highest- and lowest-performing hospitals - and that gap is widening. If all hospitals had performed at the level of America’s 250 Best during the 2022–2024 study period, more than 211,000 lives could have been saved nationwide, underscoring the critical importance of choosing a hospital with proven clinical excellence.
“This year's America’s Best Hospitals list gives patients a clearer picture of where high-quality care is delivered most consistently,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “Patients can feel confident in their decision to seek care at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, an organization that is setting the standard for clinical excellence nationwide.”
“Being named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™ reflects the extraordinary work of our entire care team,” said Karen Bowling, President and CEO of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital. “Every department, every role, and every decision focused on quality and safety contributed to this achievement.”
The recognition is especially meaningful in central Appalachia, where patients often present with higher rates of chronic disease, arrive later in the course of illness, and face barriers including transportation challenges, poverty, and limited access to care.
“When PCH performs at a top national level, it means patients here are receiving exceptionally high-quality care despite greater challenges,” Bowling said. “It confirms that where you live does not limit the quality of care you receive.”
In addition to being named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™, PCH was recently recognized by Healthgrades as the #1 hospital in West Virginia for pulmonary care, ranking among the top 5% nationwide in that specialty.
Healthgrades has also awarded PCH five-star ratings for the following services:
- 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)
About Healthgrades
Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.
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.