Out of 505 hospitals nationwide deemed to be the country’s best regional hospitals, two are in Maine.
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor were included on a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
Now in its 37th year, the annual study is meant to help patients and their families make informed, data-driven healthcare decisions in consultation with their medical providers and care teams.
The “Best Regional Hospitals” designation recognizes full-service general facilities that consistently deliver exceptional care across a wide range of medical needs.
To earn the designation, a hospital must meet rigorous quality standards. They include earning a “high performing” rating in at least eight procedures and medical conditions or specialty areas and holding at least five more “high performing” ratings than evaluated ratings.
Across every service line and quality metric, the top-rated hospitals set the standard for healthcare excellence, according to researchers.
“For nearly four decades, U.S. News has helped families and their medical providers navigate complex healthcare decisions,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News.
The publication’s “performance-driven metrics ensure American families can confidently find and choose high-quality care, often right in their own communities,” he added.
This year, the magazine also introduced regional specialty rankings for care in four areas: cancer; cardiology, heart and vascular surgery; orthopedics; and rehabilitation.
Maine Med and EMMC are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, among Maine’s largest hospitals in the 2026 Mainebiz Book of Lists.
