One of Colorado’s top hospitals is in the heart of northern Colorado.
UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in northern Colorado and tied for No. 3 among all hospitals in Colorado in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 Best Hospitals rankings, released this week. The nationally recognized publication also named MCR a high-performing hospital in 11 adult procedures and conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, heart arrhythmia, heart attack, pacemaker implantation, transcatheter aortic valve repair, colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, hip fracture, hip replacement, stroke and pneumonia care.
“We’re honored by this recognition, and even more grateful for the trust and confidence our patients and families place in us every day. That’s something we never take for granted,” said Kevin Unger, president and CEO of UCHealth’s Northern Region. “I am incredibly proud of our physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers. They care deeply for our patients and bring their best every day to provide outstanding care close to home.”
Over the past year, Unger said, MCR has grown its ability to serve more patients through a campuswide expansion of capacity and services to meet the community’s growing health care needs. The hospital also earned several significant recognitions, including the Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center certification and the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet hospital designation for the fourth time.
“As we approach MCR’s 20th anniversary, we’re proud of how far we’ve come and inspired by the opportunity to continue caring for our community for generations to come,” Unger said.
MCR is one of three UCHealth hospitals listed as Colorado’s best in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Hospitals rankings, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality care to patients across the state. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, located on the CU Anschutz campus in Aurora, is ranked No. 2 in Colorado. UCHealth Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs is ranked No. 6 and is the top hospital in southern Colorado.
As multiple organizations release their annual rankings of hospitals and health systems, UCHealth and its hospitals are again recognized among the best in Colorado or best in the U.S. for quality, patient experience and social responsibility.
Newsweek recently recognized four UCHealth hospitals among the nation’s best for specialized care in 2026. University of Colorado Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies and Memorial Hospital Central, along with Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, earned top honors for numerous complex patient conditions including heart care, cancer care, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics, pulmonary and gastrointestinal care.
“From the very beginning, UCHealth has been dedicated to improving the lives of our patients, family members, employees and those in the communities we serve. I’d like to thank our physicians and staff members for always providing the highest quality and most innovative care for our patients across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region,” said Elizabeth B Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO.
In addition, nonpartisan think tank The Lown Institute recently recognized UCHealth for the third year in a row as one of the country’s top-performing health care systems in social responsibility, community benefits, health care value and patient outcomes, reflecting UCHealth’s dedication to community benefits and excellence.
In fiscal year 2025, UCHealth cared for 3 million patients and provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefits, including $762 million in uncompensated care for patients who could not afford to pay.
News release courtesy of Kelly Tracer.