WVU Medicine Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has been recognized among the nation’s top hospitals for social responsibility, earning outstanding marks on the 2026 Lown Institute Hospitals Index, including being ranked number one for patient satisfaction in the state of Maryland.
Garrett Regional Medical Center also received ‘A’ grades in Health Equity, Patient Satisfaction, Community Benefit, and Avoiding Overuse.
The Lown Institute Hospitals Index is the nation’s only independent ranking focused on social responsibility in healthcare. The index evaluates hospitals on more than 50 measures, examining how equitably care is delivered, how well hospitals invest in their communities, whether patients receive high-value care that avoids unnecessary services, and overall clinical outcomes.
“These rankings reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses, staff, and volunteers who work every day to provide exceptional care while putting our patients and community first,” said Mark Boucot, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Garrett Regional Medical Center and Potomac Valley Hospital. “Being recognized as the top hospital in Maryland for patient satisfaction and earning ‘A’ grades across multiple categories reinforces our commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality, and equitable care close to home.”
“The best hospitals aren’t just clinically excellent; they’re deeply committed to the communities they serve and work hard to ensure all patients get the care they need,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “High performance on the Lown Index shows that hospitals are doing more of what matters to patients and communities.”
Since joining WVU Medicine, Garrett Regional Medical Center has significantly expanded access to specialty care so patients can receive more services close to home. New and expanded services include cancer care, hematology, urology, gynecology, pain management, nephrology and inpatient dialysis, stroke care, dermatology, pulmonology, podiatry and foot and ankle care, behavioral health, cardiology, vascular surgery, a Lyme disease clinic, palliative care, and additional wellness services, under the leadership direction of President and CEO Mark Boucot.
“The guiding principle behind everything we do is simple—we care for patients the way we would care for our own family,” Boucot said. “Every decision we make, every service we develop, and every interaction with a patient is measured against that standard. Our entire team lives this mission every day, and this recognition reflects their compassion, dedication, and commitment to providing exceptional care.”
Dr. Marjorie Fridkin, chief medical officer at Garrett Regional Medical Center, said the hospital’s culture of collaboration is one of its greatest strengths.
“Our medical staff, nursing teams, and hospital leadership work together exceptionally well,” Fridkin said. “The medical staff are some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever seen and are very collaborative with our administration and nursing team. When people work well together, they’re happier, and it shows in the way we care for patients.”
The recognition from the Lown Institute highlights Garrett Regional Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves through patient-centered care, community investment, and a focus on delivering the right care at the right time.
Adding to this achievement, Healthgrades also recognized Garrett Regional Medical Center with the 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, placing GRMC among the nation’s leaders for patient experience. Together, these recognitions reflect the hospital’s unwavering commitment to exceeding patient expectations and providing compassionate, high-quality care.
“It’s an award and recognition we had no idea was coming,” stated Boucot. “This recognition was nothing that we applied for, nor had any idea even existed. We’re truly blessed that people on the national level are seeing the great work that our staff at GRMC is doing, as they really are living out the mission to care for people like family.”
For more information about Garrett Regional Medical Center and its services, visit WVUMedicine.org/Garrett.
