Providence Alaska hospitals nationally recognized for providing high-quality patient care

August 5, 2026 Providence News Team

U.S. News names Providence Alaska Medical Center best regional hospital and ranks Providence St. Elias among nation’s best for rehabilitation

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — U.S. News & World Report has recognized two Providence Alaska hospitals in its 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings.

Providence Alaska Medical Center was named a Best Regional Hospital, the only hospital in Alaska to earn the designation, and recognized as High Performing in one adult specialty, 12 adult procedures and conditions, and Maternity Care. Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital was rated Alaska's top rehabilitation hospital and ranked No. 41 nationally among 1,131 rehabilitation hospitals evaluated by U.S. News.

This is the second consecutive year Providence Alaska Medical Center has been recognized as the Best Regional Hospital. U.S. News awards Best Regional Hospital recognition to hospitals that demonstrate consistently high performance across a broad range of procedures, conditions and maternity care services.

“At Providence Alaska Medical Center, we are committed to ensuring Alaskans have access to nationally recognized care without leaving the state,” said Kristen Solana Walkinshaw, M.D., chief medical officer of PAMC. “Being named Alaska's only Best Regional Hospital and earning recognition across a broad range of specialties, procedures and services reflects the expertise, compassion and dedication of our caregivers and physicians and our commitment to exceptional patient care.”

In adult specialties, Providence Alaska Medical Center was recognized as High Performing in Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. U.S. News evaluated 810 eligible hospitals nationwide in Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, drawing from a pool of 4,494 U.S. hospitals. Rankings in this specialty are driven primarily by risk-adjusted patient outcomes and supplemented by measures of hospital resources, clinical expertise, patient experience, physician reputation and public transparency.

A High Performing rating indicates that a hospital performed significantly better than the national average for a specific procedure or condition evaluated by U.S. News. In adult procedures and conditions, Providence Alaska Medical Center was rated High Performing in:

Heart Attack
Heart Arrhythmia
Heart Bypass Surgery
Pacemaker Implantation
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma
Colon Cancer Surgery
Lung Cancer Surgery
Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion)
Stroke
Hip Fracture
Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery

Additionally, in the U.S. News 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings — released in December 2025 — PAMC was recognized as High Performing for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy), the only hospital in Alaska to earn that honor.

Although this is Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital’s first appearance in the U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, the hospital is already internationally recognized for excellence in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation. Recognition by U.S. News places Providence St. Elias among a select group of rehabilitation hospitals achieving some of the nation's best patient outcomes.

U.S. News evaluated 1,131 rehabilitation hospitals nationwide for its 2026-2027 Best Hospitals for Rehabilitation rankings, recognizing the top 50 for excellence in caring for patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, severe burns and other complex conditions. Rankings are driven primarily by patient outcomes, which account for 80% of each hospital's score. Only 16% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals designation.

“We are deeply honored to see Providence St. Elias ranked No. 41 in the nation among more than 1,100 rehabilitation hospitals and programs,” said Jessica Oswald, chief administrative officer of Providence St. Elias. “This recognition reflects the exceptional work of our caregivers, physicians and rehabilitation teams, and demonstrates that Alaskans can access rehabilitation care that ranks among the nation's best, close to home.”

Learn more at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings.

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About Providence Alaska Medical Center
Providence Alaska Medical Center, a nationally recognized trauma center and Alaska’s only Magnet hospital, is part of Providence, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, affiliated services and educational facilities. As Alaska’s largest hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center provides a wide range of specialized services and serves as a referral center for patients from communities across the state. For more information, visit providence.org/locations/ak/alaska-medical-center.

About Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital
Providence St. Elias Specialty Hospital is Alaska's only long-term acute care hospital and a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation services. Located in Anchorage, St. Elias provides specialized, physician-directed care for patients recovering from critical illness, injury and complex medical conditions. Through advanced medical treatment and intensive rehabilitation services, St. Elias helps Alaskans achieve their highest level of recovery while remaining close to family and support networks. For more information, visit providence.org/locations/ak/st-elias-specialty-hospital.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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Providence Alaska hospitals nationally recognized for providing high-quality patient care

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