Healthgrades names recipients of 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award

Ocala, FL — HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital announced today that the two facilities have received the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ for the ninth year in a row from Healthgrades, the No. 1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital. The award reflects the commitment of both HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital to safe, patient-centered care and puts the facilities in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety.

Alongside this national recognition, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital were also ranked No. 1 in Florida for orthopedic surgery, spine surgery and vascular surgery, and No. 2 in the state for joint replacement by Healthgrades previously this year, as well as several other distinctions for quality care.

“HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are honored to be recognized by Healthgrades for our commitment to patient safety and high-quality patient care,” said HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Chief Executive Officer Alan Keesee. “These achievements serve as a meaningful reminder of our teams’ dedication to delivering compassionate, individualized care at every step of a patient’s journey.”

HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital’s achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine the national leaders in patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across 13 patient safety indicators, each of which represents a serious, preventable complication.

Healthgrades’ annual analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest and lowest-achieving facilities, making it increasingly important for consumers to seek care at a hospital with top safety ratings. During the 2022-2024 study period, 167,228 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients at U.S. hospitals, with four patient safety indicators accounting for nearly 78% of all incidents. Patients treated at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and other award-winning facilities had a profoundly lower risk of experiencing these leading complications:

• In-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4% less likely)
• Collapsed lung due to a procedure in or around the chest (57.5% less likely)
• Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8% less likely)
• Pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9% less likely)

"The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “By prioritizing evidence-based safety practices, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital are achieving better clinical outcomes and cultivating a culture where patients come first.” 

*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence Award Methodology, which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2025.0.1) to MedPAR data from approximately 4,500 hospitals for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.