Mercy Medical Center in Aurora gets high grades from another national group
The Lown Institute, an independent health care think tank, gave Mercy Medical an overall 'A' on its 2025–26 Hospitals Index. The grade measures the hospital's 'social responsibility' through metrics about equity, value and patient outcomes.
'We're honored to be recognized by the Lown Institute,' Fernando Gruta, CEO at Mercy Medical Center, said in a news release. 'Our team remains committed to continuously focusing on delivering safe, equitable care to all we serve.'
Mercy Medical also recently received top marks for the spring 2025 period from hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group. Detailed breakdowns of the scoring showed that the hospital performed at or above the national average in most areas.
However, like those given by Leapfrog, the Lown Institute's grade of the hospital may not necessarily capture what is currently going on at Mercy Medical Center. Both organizations based their grading on data collected in 2024 or earlier, but the hospital has recently gone through some big changes.
Perhaps the largest of the changes at Mercy Medical was Prime Healthcare's purchase of it and several other hospitals from Ascension in March.
In addition to the change in leadership, Mercy has also been dealing with the loss of a significant number of doctors after Advocate Healthcare slowly pulled out of the hospital over the past year or more. Then, in April, the hospital lost its Level II Trauma Center designation over allegations of understaffing.
Hospital officials have said that, despite the changes, Mercy Medical Center continues to provide health care services including emergency and critical care without any gaps in coverage.
A news release from Prime Healthcare recently said Mercy's top grades from both The Leapfrog Group and the Lown Institute 'highlight a strong, sustained commitment to patient-centered, high-quality care.'
Up to 54 metrics were compiled to create the Lown Institute's scoring of a hospital, according to the organization's website. From those metrics, scores were given to specific categories like 'pay equity' or 'avoiding overuse' which then contributed to broader grades of a hospital's equity, value and outcomes, plus combined into an overall social responsibility score.
For its broader grades, Mercy Medical Center received an 'A' in equity, a 'B' in value and a 'B' in patient outcomes.
Within the equity category, Mercy saw an 'A' in each category: Pay equity, which measured the difference between executive and low-level worker compensation; community benefit, which measured the hospital's investment in free care and community health; and inclusivity, which measured how demographically similar patients were to those who live in the surrounding community.
In the value category, the hospital received a 'D' in avoiding overuse, which measured how often the hospital did inappropriate tests or procedures with little benefit, but an 'A' in cost efficiency, which measured outcomes as compared to cost.
For the outcomes category, Mercy Medical got an 'A' in clinical outcomes, which measured how well the hospital kept patients alive and prevented return trips, and a 'B' in patient satisfaction, which measured patients' self-reported experience with the hospital, but received a 'D' in patient safety, which measured preventable safety errors.
Overall, Mercy Medical Center ranked in the top quarter of acute care hospitals nationwide and as the 15th best acute care hospital in the state.
Prime Healthcare's news release about the results said Mercy stands out among the other hospitals in the Lown Institute's Hospitals Index for 'its commitment to delivering high-quality, equitable care.'
Rush Copley Medical Center, the other hospital in Aurora, received an overall 'B' ranking for its social responsibility. It received a 'B' in equity, a 'C' in value and an 'A' in outcomes.
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Prime Healthcare hospitals lead the nation in patient care, community service, health equity, and exceptional outcomes ONTARIO, Calif., July 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prime Healthcare has been recognized as a national leader in hospital social responsibility, with 46 of its hospitals earning "A" grades on the 2025-26 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Among more than 3,500 hospitals evaluated nationwide, Prime hospitals stood out for their exceptional performance in health equity, patient outcomes and value of care—key measures that reflect a hospital's impact on the communities it serves. 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About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 51 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.5 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 57,000 employees and physicians. Eighteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a 10 Top and 15 Top Health System by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals have been named among the nation's "100 Top Hospitals" 72 times and is one of Healthgrades most awarded health systems in the nation for patient safety. To learn more, please visit Find us on:LinkedIn: Facebook: Instagram: View source version on Contacts Mark Reecemreece@ (916) 303-6440
Associated Press
30-07-2025
- Associated Press
Prime Healthcare Achieves National Recognition for Exemplary Social Responsibility by Lown Institute
ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 30, 2025-- Prime Healthcare has been recognized as a national leader in hospital social responsibility, with 46 of its hospitals earning 'A' grades on the 2025-26 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Among more than 3,500 hospitals evaluated nationwide, Prime hospitals stood out for their exceptional performance in health equity, patient outcomes and value of care—key measures that reflect a hospital's impact on the communities it serves. Eight Prime hospitals earned top ranks in their states across various domains, including health equity, patient safety and community impact: The Lown Institute Hospitals Index is an independent national ranking that evaluates hospitals on more than 50 metrics across equity, value and outcomes—factors often overlooked in traditional hospital ratings. 'Hospitals are facing unprecedented political and financial challenges,' said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. 'In this uncertain environment, it's more important than ever to support the socially responsible hospitals who are delivering high-quality care to all in their community.' Prime Healthcare continues to strengthen its mission to save and improve hospitals through measurable results. The system's strong showing across the Index reflects focused investments in care quality, physician leadership and a commitment to serving vulnerable and underserved populations. 'Social responsibility and health equity are not just goals—they are a reflection of our purpose as a healthcare organization,' said Sunny Bhatia, MD, President and Corporate Chief Medical Officer of Prime Healthcare. 'It is a profound responsibility and honor to care for our communities, and I commend our caregivers for the compassion, excellence and integrity they bring to every patient encounter.' Sixteen of the hospitals recognized this year are not-for-profit facilities supported by the Prime Healthcare Foundation, reinforcing the Foundation's mission to expand access and advance health equity in underserved communities. 'We are proud of the extraordinary physicians and staff at our Foundation hospitals who bring our mission to life each day,' said Kavitha Bhatia, MD, President and Chair of the Prime Healthcare Foundation. 'Their unwavering commitment to compassionate, high-quality care ensures that dignity, respect and equity remain central to every patient experience. This recognition is a testament to their leadership and dedication.' Four Prime Healthcare hospitals earned a spot on the prestigious Lown Institute Honor Roll, receiving straight 'A' grades across all measured categories, including Social Responsibility, Health Equity, Value of Care and Patient Outcomes: The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes for more than 2,700 acute care and 800 critical access hospitals nationwide, offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. In the sixth annual rankings, the 2025-26 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms, among others. Full methodology can be found on the Lown Index website. The full list of the 46 Prime Healthcare/Prime Healthcare Foundation 2025-26 Lown Institute Hospitals Index awardees is as follows: Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood, CA; Chino Valley Medical Center; Chino, CA; Coshocton Regional Medical Center, Coshocton, OH; Dallas Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Dallas Regional Medical Center, Mesquite, TX; Desert Valley Hospital, Victorville, CA; East Liverpool City Hospital, East Liverpool, OH; Encino Hospital Medical Center, Encino, CA; Garden City Hospital, Garden City, MI; Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Garden Grove, CA; Harlingen Medical Center, Harlingen, TX; Huntington Beach Hospital, Huntington Beach, CA; Knapp Medical Center, Weslaco, TX; La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, La Palma, CA; Lake Huron Medical Center, Port Huron, MI; Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI; Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Lehigh Acres, FL; Lower Bucks Hospital, Bristol, PA; Mercy Medical Center, Aurora, IL; Mission Regional Medical Center, Mission, TX; Monroe Hospital, Bloomington, IN; Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Montclair, CA; North Vista Hospital, North Las Vegas, NV; Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, CA; Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Riverview Regional Medical Center, Gadsden AL; Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; Saint Clare's Denville, Denville, NJ; Saint Francis Hospital, Evanston, IL; Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL; Saint Joseph Medical Center, Joliet, IL; Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital, Chicago, IL; Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV; Saint Michael's Medical Center, Newark, NJ; San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, CA; Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, CA; Sherman Oaks Hospital, Sherman Oaks, CA; Southern Regional Medical Center, Riverdale, GA; St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood, CA; St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO; St. Mary's General Hospital, Passaic, NJ; St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee, IL; St. Mary's Medical Center, Kansas City, MO; Suburban Community Hospital, Norristown, PA; West Anaheim Medical Center, Anaheim, CA. About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 51 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.5 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation's leading health systems, with nearly 57,000 employees and physicians. Eighteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a 10 Top and 15 Top Health System by Truven Health Analytics. Its hospitals have been named among the nation's '100 Top Hospitals' 72 times and is one of Healthgrades most awarded health systems in the nation for patient safety. To learn more, please visit Facebook: Instagram: View source version on CONTACT: Mark Reece [email protected] (916) 303-6440 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANAGED CARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PHILANTHROPY CONSUMER HOSPITALS DEI (DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION) FOUNDATION OTHER CONSUMER HUMAN RESOURCES PRACTICE MANAGEMENT RELIGION HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) SOURCE: Prime Healthcare Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/30/2025 05:45 PM/DISC: 07/30/2025 05:46 PM
