Seven Mercy Rehabilitation Hospitals Rank Among Nation’s Best

FORT SMITH and ROGERS, Ark. (Sept. 17, 2025)­ – Arkansas residents recovering from a severe injury or illness have convenient access to two of the best places to regain strength and mobility in the nation, according to Newsweek. Newsweek magazine named Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith (No. 2) and Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Northwest Arkansas (No. 4) on their 2025 list of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers.

“This high ranking for two Mercy rehabilitation hospitals in the region shows the consistent quality Arkansans can rely on,” said Cory VanMeter, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith CEO. “Congratulations to our caregivers for this well-deserved national recognition and for all they do every day to help our patients return to their lives and their families.”

These rehabilitation hospitals provide ongoing care and specialized treatment to patients throughout the recovery process, with specialized programs to help patients recover from strokes, brain or spinal cord injuries, amputations, complex orthopedic injuries and neurological conditions.

"We meet patients at some of the most difficult crossroads in their lives and know the impact patient-centered treatment can have on their recovery journeys,” said Wendy Yates, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Northwest Arkansas CEO. “This award for both our Arkansas hospitals underscores the remarkable and industry-leading care our team of rehabilitation professionals delivers every day.”

Newsweek partners with Statista to analyze four types of data sources to select and rank the best facilities with comparable data. The methodology includes recommendations from medical experts from a national online survey, Google reviews to assess patient satisfaction, inpatient rehabilitation facilities quality metrics published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and accreditation data.

Newsweek also named five other Mercy facilities among America’s Best Rehabilitation Centers, including Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City South, St. Louis, South St. Louis and Springfield.

“We congratulate these excellent rehabilitation hospitals for this well-deserved recognition,” said Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Arkansas Communities. “Behind this high ranking are countless stories of caregivers helping patients regain their independence and quality of life. We thank this incredible team for their skill, dedication and compassion as they walk alongside patients overcoming some of their most difficult days.”

The awards list can be viewed at America's Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers - Newsweek Rankings. In addition to the Newsweek ranking, two Arkansas facilities, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Fort Smith and Mercy Northwest Arkansas, have been ranked in the top 5% of rehabilitation hospitals nationally by Uniform Data System (UDS).