WakeMed Named High Performing By U.S. News & World Report

WakeMed achieves high-performance ratings in 15 key categories

RALEIGH, N.C. – WakeMed earned “High Performing” ratings—the highest designation a hospital can earn—in 15 categories for U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 list of Best Hospitals: Procedures & Conditions.

For the 2026-2027 rankings and ratings, U.S. News & World Report evaluated nearly 4,300 hospitals across 23 benchmark procedures and conditions. Less than half of the hospitals evaluated earned a “High Performing” designation in the types of care evaluated by U.S. News.

The WakeMed system achieved this recognition for performing significantly better than the national average in these categories, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes.

“Our dedication to providing safe, quality, compassionate care to our patients and community is reflected in everything we do,” said Tom Gough, WakeMed executive vice president and chief operating officer. “WakeMed offers the highest level of care available in Wake County and beyond, including critical, neonatal and maternity, pediatric, neuroscience, cardiology, cancer, and trauma care, among many others. We are very proud to be nationally recognized and ranked among the best for our efforts.”

WakeMed Raleigh Campus and WakeMed North Hospital is designated as “High Performing” in 11 procedures and conditions (the Raleigh Campus evaluation also includes data from WakeMed North Hospital), including:

• Aortic valve surgery
• Back surgery (spinal fusion)
• Colon cancer surgery
• Diabetes
• Ear, nose, and throat surgery
• Heart attack
• Heart bypass surgery
• Maternity care (non-complicated pregnancy)
• Prostate cancer surgery
• Stroke
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

WakeMed Cary Hospital is rated as “High Performing” in eight procedures and conditions, including:

• Colon cancer surgery
• Heart arrhythmia
• Heart failure
• Lung cancer surgery
• Maternity care (non-complicated pregnancy)
• Pacemaker implantation
• Prostate cancer surgery
• Stroke

The annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.