Silver Cross Hospital Named to Forbes Top Hospitals by State 2026 List

Silver Cross Hospital has been recognized by Forbes as one of Illinois' top hospitals, earning a spot on the publication's inaugural Forbes Top Hospitals by State 2026 list.

The recognition highlights hospitals that demonstrate excellence across multiple measures of quality and performance, including patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value and patient experience. The state rankings are derived from the Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 national ratings system, which evaluated general acute care hospitals throughout the United States using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

In May of this year, Silver Cross became the only hospital in Will and Grundy counties to earn a Five-Star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – the highest possible score that CMS assigns to hospitals. The rating places Silver Cross among the top 12% of ALL eligible hospitals in the United States. The national average is three out of five stars.

According to Forbes, measuring quality is fundamental to improving healthcare outcomes. The publication's methodology evaluated hospitals using 56 best-in-class healthcare quality measures, with patient outcomes carrying the greatest weight in the rankings. The ratings also account for clinical risk factors and social drivers of health to help ensure fair comparisons among hospitals serving diverse communities.

“This recognition reflects the dedication, compassion and expertise our entire team brings to patient care every day,” said Michael Mutterer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Cross Hospital. “At Silver Cross, we know that exceptional care is never the result of one individual. It happens when physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, therapists, support staff and volunteers work TOGETHER with a shared commitment to our patients. We’re exceptionally proud of this achievement and grateful to every member of our Silver Cross family whose efforts made this recognition possible.”

The Forbes state rankings were developed using the publication's national hospital evaluation model. Hospitals were assessed across four key pillars:

• Patient Outcomes (55%)
• Hospital Best Practices (20%)
• Value (15%)
• Patient Experience (10%)

To qualify for the state list, hospitals first had to be eligible for the national rankings and receive an overall star rating. Forbes then identified the highest-performing hospitals within each state based on their ratings methodology. Ultimately, 781 hospitals nationwide were recognized.

Silver Cross has earned national recognition for quality, safety and patient satisfaction for many years. This latest honor reinforces the hospital's commitment to delivering exceptional care close to home for residents throughout Will County and the south suburbs.

“Our focus remains where it has always been, on providing safe, high-quality, compassionate care for every patient who entrusts us with their health,” Mutterer added. "Recognition from an organization like Forbes is meaningful because it reflects measurable outcomes and the experiences of the patients we serve. We share this honor with our entire team and the community that places its trust in Silver Cross every day.”

For more information about Silver Cross Hospital and its award-winning services, visit silvercross.org.

About Silver Cross Hospital
Silver Cross Hospital is an independent, not-for-profit healthcare provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross is nationally recognized for safety, quality and experience by a number of prestigious ratings organizations. We’ve been named a 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner 11 times, honored with an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group 22 times, and rated 5 Stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition, Silver Cross has been named a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital for 8 years running, and Healthgrades ranked Silver Cross #1 in Illinois in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons rated our open-heart surgery program a 3-star program, the highest rating available, placing Silver Cross among the most elite heart surgery programs in the United States and Canada.

With over 4,500 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 348-bed acute care hospital and nearly two dozen satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital in 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. In Fiscal Year 2025, Silver Cross provided nearly $62 million in charity care and other community benefits. Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care. These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital, visit silvercross.org.