Prime Healthcare Illinois Hospitals Named to Becker’s “100 Great Community Hospitals” List
Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital-Chicago, Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston, and St. Mary’s Hospital-Kankakee recognized for excellence in quality, patient safety, and community impact
CHICAGO (June 10, 2026) – Three Prime Healthcare Illinois hospitals—Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital-Chicago, Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston, and St. Mary’s Hospital-Kankakee—have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2026 “100 Great Community Hospitals” list.
According to Becker’s, its “100 Great Community Hospitals” are distinguished by their commitment to clinical excellence; accessibility; personalized, high-quality, affordable care; and improving health outcomes within the communities they serve. Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital is a member of Prime Healthcare, while Saint Francis Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital are members of the not-for-profit Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.
“Community hospitals serve an essential role in our nation’s healthcare system, and we believe they are worth saving, strengthening, and investing in,” said Sunny Bhatia, MD, president of Prime Healthcare. “This meaningful recognition among the nation’s greatest hospitals reflects the dedication of our physicians, caregivers, teams and the progress being made to enhance quality and expand access to care. We are honored to partner with these communities to build stronger hospitals and a healthier future for the patients who depend on them.”
Prime Healthcare recently expanded its Illinois presence to nine hospitals with unanimous approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board and recognition of Prime’s nationally proven record of revitalizing struggling hospitals, honoring commitments to local communities, and investing in expanded services and access to care.
Board Member David Fox stated, “I was impressed by the fact that you had already acquired 45-plus hospitals around America, all of them in highly distressed condition. And you’ve been able to maintain and improve their performance over the years. You really do seem to be fulfilling the promises that you made to us back in 2024.”
Highlights from Becker’s Recognition
Becker’s Healthcare highlighted distinctions for each hospital that place them among the nation’s greatest community hospitals.
Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital-Chicago
- Ranked No. 1 in Illinois for health equity and among the top five hospitals in the state for social responsibility by the Lown Institute Hospitals Index
- Recognized among the nation’s top 20 hospitals for social responsibility
- Opened an obstetrics-focused emergency department and earned Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians
- Expanded specialized services for older adults, including programs addressing mental health needs
Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston
- Achieved ANCC Magnet Recognition with Distinction, one of the highest honors in nursing excellence and patient care
- Ranked No. 1 in the nation for pay equity by the Lown Institute Hospitals Index
- Earned “A” grades from the Lown Institute for social responsibility, patient safety, health equity, community benefit, and inclusivity
St. Mary’s Hospital-Kankakee
- Earned four consecutive “A” grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group
- Received the Healthgrades 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award
- Named to Forbes’ “Top Hospitals” list
- Prime Healthcare Foundation’s immediate contribution of $50,000 to the United Way of Kankakee Emergency Relief Fund to support local families in need demonstrated its commitment to the community
In total, these three Illinois hospitals were joined by four other Prime Healthcare hospitals on the list:
- Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center (Reno, NV)
- Sherman Oaks Hospital (CA)
- Encino Hospital Medical Center (CA)
- St. Mary’s General Hospital (Passaic, NJ)
According to Becker’s, the greatest community hospitals are chosen for their ability to offer accessible, affordable, and high-quality care to patients. Becker’s Healthcare developed the list based on nominations and editorial research, and organizations cannot pay for inclusion.
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