Three Mercy hospitals have been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 2026, a recognition that underscores the healthcare system’s commitment to specialty medical services across the Midwest.
Newsweek magazine awarded the distinction to Mercy Hospital Springfield, Mercy Hospital St. Louis and Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. The rankings evaluated hospitals across multiple specialties based on quality metrics, patient outcomes and peer recommendations.
Mercy Hospital St. Louis earned recognition in nine specialty areas: cancer care, cardiac care, children’s neurological care, children’s oncology, children’s orthopedics, endocrine care, gastrointestinal care, orthopedics and pulmonology. The breadth of specialties recognized reflects the depth of specialized medical expertise available within the Mercy system.
For Northwest Arkansas residents, the ranking carries particular significance. Mercy operates Mercy Hospital Rogers in Rogers, part of the same integrated health system that includes the nationally recognized facilities. The shared infrastructure means NWA patients benefit from the same standards, protocols and specialty expertise that earned the system’s other hospitals national recognition.
“This kind of national recognition matters for families in our community,” said Dr. Robert Williams, a physician at Mercy Hospital Rogers. “When your local hospital is part of a system that Newsweek calls among the best in the country, that translates to better access to specialized care without driving to a major metropolitan area.”
The Newsweek ranking methodology considered objective data including mortality indexes, patient safety measures and infection rates, along with recommendations from medical professionals across the country. Hospitals that made the list demonstrated consistently strong performance across both routine and complex medical scenarios.
Mercy has invested significantly in specialty services in recent years, expanding cardiac care, oncology programs and surgical capabilities across its hospital network. The system serves patients across Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas, with major medical centers in urban areas supporting smaller facilities in regional communities.
In Northwest Arkansas, Mercy Hospital Rogers serves as a primary healthcare provider for thousands of families in Benton and Washington counties. The facility offers emergency services, surgical care, imaging and diagnostic capabilities, with specialists regularly traveling from the system’s larger hospitals to provide consultations locally.
The Newsweek recognition follows other recent accolades for Mercy facilities. The health system has consistently ranked among regional leaders in patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes, factors that healthcare industry analysts say are increasingly important as patients seek high-quality care close to home.
“People used to assume you had to go to a big city for the best specialty care,” said Sarah Chen, a healthcare consultant who works with rural hospital systems. “What’s happening now is that integrated systems like Mercy are bringing that same level of expertise to communities like Northwest Arkansas. The rankings validate that model.”
For NWA families, the practical impact means access to specialty physicians, advanced treatment options and coordinated care that might otherwise require travel to Little Rock, Tulsa or Kansas City. The Newsweek recognition signals that when patients do need specialized treatment, they’re receiving care that meets national standards for excellence.
Mercy Hospital Rogers continues to expand its service offerings, with recent investments in diagnostic imaging technology and the addition of new specialist physicians to its medical staff. The hospital’s connection to the larger Mercy system allows local patients to access clinical trials and advanced treatment protocols developed at the system’s flagship facilities.
Source: Mercy NWA Newsroom
