Ascension St. Joseph and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospitals Named Top U.S. Hospitals by Forbes

Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton have been recognized as two of the nation's top hospitals by Forbes, in its inaugural "Top Hospitals" list. Both hospitals achieved scores ranking in the top 5% of the 5,400 hospitals evaluated, with considerations for healthcare quality measures assessing patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value, and patient experience.

"This recognition further demonstrates the innovative, high-quality, safe and equitable services Ascension Wisconsin's hospitals deliver to our patients and our communities every day," said Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Kevin Casey, Ascension Wisconsin. "Our care teams work very hard to consistently deliver world-class care and ensure every patient we are blessed to serve is cared for professionally and with great compassion."

Evaluations and recognitions such as Forbes Top Hospitals can be used as one of many resources for patients to find hospitals that offer high-quality, high-value medical services.

Ascension Wisconsin hospitals have received multiple accolades and recognitions from third-party sources recently, including:

• U.S. News & World Report named Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital (Milwaukee Campus); Ascension St. Joseph Hospital (Milwaukee); Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital (Appleton); and Ascension All Saints Hospital (Racine) as 2026 High Performing hospitals for Maternity Care in December 2025 .
• The Leapfrog Group-an independent national nonprofit focused on patient safety-gave "A" grades to Ascension St. Joseph Hospital (Milwaukee) and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital (Appleton) in November 2025, recognizing exceptional safety and quality.

Approximately 5,400 general acute care hospitals were eligible for consideration and from that initial pool, approximately 2,500 hospitals met Forbes' inclusion criteria. The ratings were then calculated, and of these facilities, 253 hospitals received an overall rating of 5 stars. Both Ascension St. Joseph Hospital and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital achieved 5-star ratings. 509 hospitals received an overall rating of 4 stars. These 4- and 5-star hospitals comprise the inaugural Forbes Top Hospitals list.

Learn more about Ascension Wisconsin's hospitals.