Sanford, FL — HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital announced today that it has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, the No. 1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. This achievement reflects HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital’s commitment to clinical excellence and top-tier patient care, placing the organization in the top 5% of U.S. hospitals for overall clinical performance.
A Level II Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center with the only full-service cardiovascular program in Seminole and west Volusia counties, HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital also received the 2026 Spine Surgery Excellence Award, the 2026 Healthgrades Pulmonary Care Excellence award for the third year in a row, a five-star ranking for treatment of stroke and five-star rankings for treatment of heart failure, defibrillator procedures and pacemaker procedures. A full list of the 2026 Healthgrades awards received by HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in multiple specialties is at the end of this news release.
“HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital is honored by Healthgrades’ recognition of our exceptional team’s dedication to providing the highest quality of patient care,” said HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital CEO John Gerhold. “As a top-performing hospital, our focus is always on saving and improving lives, and this recognition underscores our hospital’s longstanding commitment to our community.”
HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital’s achievement is based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2026, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide.
Healthgrades’ analysis found that outcomes vary widely between the nation’s highest- and lowest-performing facilities — and the gap is getting bigger. In fact, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to America’s 250 Best, on average, 211,370 lives could have been saved during the 2022-2024 study period.* These findings illustrate the importance of choosing a facility with an established record of superior clinical outcomes.
“This year's America’s Best Hospitals list gives patients a clearer picture of where high-quality care is delivered most consistently,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “Patients can feel confident in their decision to seek care at HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital, a hospital that is setting the standard for clinical excellence nationwide.”
Healthgrades 2026 Clinical Achievements, HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital
- Recipient of Healthgrades® America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award™ in 2026
- One of Healthgrades® America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care™ in 2026
- One of Healthgrades® America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery™ in 2026
Orthopedics
- Recipient of the Healthgrades 2026 Spine Surgery Excellence Award™
- Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Spine Surgery in 2026
- Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 10 Years in a Row (2017-2026)
- Five-Star Recipient for Spinal Fusion Surgery in 2026
Pulmonary
- Recipient of the Healthgrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
- Named Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services for 2 Years in a Row (2025-2026)
- Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall Pulmonary Services for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pneumonia for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
Cardiac
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure in 2026
- Five-Star Recipient for Defibrillator Procedures for 2 Years in a Row (2025-2026)
- Five-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
Neurosciences
- Five-star recipient for treatment of stroke, 2026
Vascular
- Five-Star Recipient for Carotid Procedures for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
Gastrointestinal
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pancreatitis in 2026
- Five-Star Recipient for Gallbladder Removal Surgery for 4 Years in a Row (2023-2026)
Critical Care
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis for 5 Years in a Row (2022-2026)
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Diabetic Hospitalizations in 2026
With care variation on the rise, consumers must find and select a top-rated hospital to maximize their chances of a successful outcome. Consumers can visit Healthgrades’ America’s Best Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the national leaders in clinical excellence.