Key points:
- Mercy earned NRC Health’s 2026 Excellence in Patient Experience Award, marking its fifth consecutive year receiving the national honor.
- Mercy was one of only three large U.S. health systems to receive the designation in 2026.
- The award is based on patient feedback and willingness to recommend a health system to others.
- More than 1.25 million patient encounters annually contribute feedback through Mercy’s partnership with NRC Health.
- Mercy has more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients across hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers and other care settings.
ST. LOUIS — Friends tell friends to go to Mercy.
For the fifth straight year, Mercy led the way among large American hospital systems by earning the 2026 NRC Health® Excellence in Patient Experience Award. The data-driven honor goes to healthcare facilities recommended by their own patients.
NRC Health, a leader in gathering feedback from patients about their care, recognizes honorees for delivering exceptional care and earning high patient experience ratings. Among U.S. health systems with at least 25 hospitals, Mercy was one of only three to earn the designation in 2026.
“Patients trust us during some of the most critical moments in their lives, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly,” said Dr. John Mohart, Mercy executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This recognition reflects the compassion, kindness and dedication our caregivers bring to every patient and family, every day. It’s rewarding for all of us to know our patients recommend Mercy to their loved ones.”
Mercy’s 50,000-plus caregivers across hospitals, clinics, urgent cares and other settings work together to center the patient experience on compassion, communication and high-quality care. From the bedside to the front desk, every interaction plays a role in helping patients feel welcomed, informed and cared for with dignity.
“NRC Health’s awards recognize organizations that consistently deliver experiences that earn trust, strengthen loyalty and improve healthcare for the people they serve,” said Trent Green, NRC Health chief executive officer. “This recognition reflects a sustained commitment to listening, learning and acting on what matters most to patients, consumers, families and care teams. We are honored to celebrate organizations that turn insight into action and set a powerful example for healthcare organizations nationwide."
Top healthcare facilities are selected based on real-time feedback from patients about their care and patients’ willingness to recommend an organization to others. One winner is honored in each of the following categories of facilities: small, medium and large health systems; small, medium and large hospitals; pediatric facilities and clinics. Mercy was selected as one of the top large health systems based on patient feedback collected from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. A complete list of winners is available at Awards | NRC Health.
Mercy works closely with NRC Health to gather and respond to feedback, whether patients are in the hospital or seen on an outpatient basis. Mercy also participates in NRC’s Transparency program, which shares information from patient surveys of Mercy physicians on mercy.net. Through this collaboration, Mercy receives feedback about their encounters with Mercy services, caregivers and providers from more than 1.25 million patients annually.
