Mission Regional Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco have earned national recognition for delivering 5-star care, receiving top ratings for 2026 in the treatment of hip fractures, diabetes, and other conditions.
The recognition from Healthgrades — a national company that specializes in research and information about healthcare — is the latest accolade for the three Prime Healthcare hospitals in the RGV, which also received an “A” grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group.
Mission Regional Medical Center’s recognition from Healthgrades includes the following:
- Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Gastrointestinal Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2025-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 8 Years in a Row (2019-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Treatment of Diabetic Hospitalizations for 4 Years in a Row (2023-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Gallbladder Removal Surgery for 7 Years in a Row (2020-2026)
- Recipient of the Healthgrades Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award for 2 Years in a Row (2025-2026)
Harlingen Medical Center’s recognitions include the following:
- 5-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures for 6 Years in a Row (2021-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 19 Years in a Row (2008-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Treatment of Diabetic Hospitalizations for 4 Years in a Row (2023-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Treatment of Pneumonia for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
Knapp Medical Center’s latest recognitions include the following:
- 5-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 14 Years in a Row (2013-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Treatment of Diabetic Hospitalizations for 4 Years in a Row (2023-2026)
- 5-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack for 3 Years in a Row (2024-2026)
The five-star ratings reflect the Prime hospitals’ commitment to consistently delivering the best possible care — and place the three RGV hospitals in the upper echelon of hospitals for specialty care nationwide, according to Healthgrades.
“These multiple recognitions are a testament to the work of our physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, and support staff — and to their steadfast dedication to providing compassionate, high-quality care to the patients of the Rio Grande Valley,” said Kane Dawson, CEO of Mission Regional Medical Center.
“We are honored to receive these awards for quality of care,” added Todd Mann, CEO of Harlingen Medical Center. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care to the patients and communities we serve.”
Rene J. Lopez, MD, FACHE, RRT, CEO for Knapp Medical Center, said the hospital’s recognition is “a demonstration of the level of commitment our physicians and employees have in ensuring that our patients receive safe, high-quality, compassionate, and personalized care.”
Mission Regional Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center’s accomplishments are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. As part of its 2026 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures — at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide — to determine the top performers in specialty care.
By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.
As performance gaps persist between the nation’s highest and lowest-achieving facilities, seeking care at a top program has never been more important. Healthgrades’ 2026 analysis revealed that if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to five-star hospitals during the 2022-2024 study period, on average, 230,466 lives could have been saved and 156,797 complications could have been avoided.*
“Healthgrades’ specialty awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals in key service areas, helping consumers find high-quality care tailored to their specific needs,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor with Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize Mission Regional Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center for their consistently superior outcomes in key service areas.”
Consumers can visit Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the top-performing hospitals for specialty care.
For more information on award-winning patient care in the Valley, please visit MissionRMC.org, HarlingenMedicalCenter.com, and KnappMed.org.
*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Visit healthgrades.com/quality/ratings-awards/methodology/specialty-excellence-awards-americas-best-hospitals-for-specialty-care-awards-methodology to view the complete 2026 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.
