One of only 12 in state recognized
SPECIAL TO THE LEADER
GUNTERSVILLE — Forbes announced Marshall Medical Centers made the Top Hospitals 2026 list.
The annual list is designed to evaluate general acute care hospitals in the U.S. and can be used as a resource for patients to find hospitals that can offer top-notch, high-value medical services.
“As a nonprofit healthcare provider for our rural communities, we are grateful for the high honor of this recognition,” Marshall Medical President Chris Rush said.
“The skilled, compassionate work happening daily in our hospitals is evident. We are committed to this excellence and appreciate each member of our team’s commitment.”
Forbes analyzed data from the Provider Data Catalog created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Healthcare quality measures were evaluated in patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value and patient experience.
About 5,400 hospitals were initially eligible for consideration. Roughly 2,600 met the criteria. Marshall Medical was one of only 12 hospitals in Alabama to be recognized.
“Our employees are passionate about providing the best care,” Rush said. “This honor reflects their hard work.”
With two hospitals, eight outpatient locations and a team of physicians practicing 27 specialties, Marshall Medical is a convenient choice for local healthcare. Employing 1,366 people, the healthcare system has an annual economic impact of $488 million.
The Forbes ratings assess hospitals across categories including patient outcomes, best practices, value and patient experience, with patient outcomes receiving the greatest weight.
“The list stands out for its emphasis on clinical outcomes — such as rates of mortality, infection and readmissions — and for the distinct way the methodology adjusts for social drivers of health, like socioeconomics and access to medical care,” says Rachel Rabkin Peachman, editor of Forbes Top Hospitals.
“By accounting for these factors (which have been shown to impact health) within the framework of validated healthcare measures, Forbes’ ratings offer a more level comparison of each hospital’s quality, despite differences among hospitals’ locations or patient populations.”
See more at www.forbes.com/lists/top-hospitals.
Marshall Medical Centers, with its North (Guntersville) and South (Boaz) campuses, made the inaugural Forbes Top Hospitals lists. Marshall Medical Centers received four-star ratings (on a five-star scale) for its overall score, and for patient outcomes, value and patient experience. Leaders say they’re working to get more doctors into the system. SPECIAL TO THE LEADER
