Munson Healthcare Awards & Recognition

The dedication of everyone at Munson Healthcare has resulted in consistent national recognition for quality care. We will continue to improve, innovate and excel, because enhancing the quality of health and wellness in our community remains our constant focus. 

2022-2023 Awards & Recognition

Munson Healthcare


December 2023 – Munson Healthcare was identified as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems™ according to an independent quality analysis based on a scorecard provided by PINC AI™, the technology and services brand of Premier, Inc. and reported by Fortune.

Munson Medical Center


August 2023American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Award, with Stroke Honor Roll Elite designation for 10th consecutive year.
This quality achievement award recognizes the hospital’s care that ensures stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Receiving Honor Roll Elite status means the hospital meets criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with clot-busting medication.   


August 2023US News and World Report Best Hospitals – Ranked 7th in the state of Michigan


July 2023CMS 5-Star rating/ top 8 percent of hospitals nationally
This means our hospital meets and exceeds CMS quality standards.


May 2023Leapfrog Group “A” grade for quality and safety.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog group that examines hospital quality and safety, assigning an A, B, C, D, and F grade based on how safe the facility is for patients.

July 2022Fortune/Meritave 100 Top Hospital, Top 15 Teaching Hospital
There were 2,650 hospitals nationwide included in the annual study by Fortune/Merative that led to the national rankings. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the award which is based on publicly available Medicare data from 2020.


  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield Distinction Center for bariatrics, cardiac, and maternity care
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield designation for hospitals meeting and exceeding their care benchmarks
  • Reverified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons

Cadillac Hospital


October 2023 - Fortune/PINC AI 100 Top Hospitals - Small Community Category It is the fourth time the hospital has been recognized as a 100 Top Hospital in the nation. Researchers used publicly available data to evaluate 2,644 short-term, acute care, non-federal U.S. hospitals to determine this list.


July 2023CMS 5-Star ranking/Top 8 percent of hospitals nationally
This means our hospital meets and exceeds CMS quality standards.


May 2023Leapfrog Group “A” grade for quality and safety
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog group that examines hospital quality and safety, assigning an A, B, C, D, and F grade based on how safe the facility is for patients.


Feb. 2023Named a 2023 Top 20 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health


  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield designation for hospitals meeting and exceeding their care benchmarks

Charlevoix Hospital


2023 – Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital’s Ambulatory Surgery department has been honored as one of Press Ganey’s 2023 HX Pinnacle of Excellence Award® winners, recognizing the department for ranking in the top 5% of healthcare providers in delivering patient experience over a minimum of three consecutive years.

2022 – Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital named a 2022 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the nation by The Chartis Center for Rural Health

Grayling Hospital


  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement and maternity care
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield designation for hospitals meeting and exceeding their care benchmarks

Munson Healthcare Dialysis


Jan. 2023 - Munson Healthcare’s Home Dialysis Department ranked in the Top 10 of more than 7,000 home dialysis programs nationwide by the Health Services Advisory Group for CMS.

Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital


2023 - Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital was named a 2023 Human Experience (HX) Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the global leader in healthcare experience solutions and services, recognizing the organization for being in the top 5% of healthcare providers in delivering outstanding patient experiences. The awards specifically recognize patient experience at POMH’s Emergency Department, Frankfort Medical Group and Empire Family Care clinics.


Awards and Recognition from Previous Years

Five Munson Healthcare hospitals were recognized by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and iVantage Analytics for top performance.


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), recognized Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital as one of only 10 hospitals in Michigan and among 136 nationwide, to receive a five-star rating for overall quality. Only about seven percent of hospitals nationwide were rated as five-star hospitals.


Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital was named one of iVantage Health Analytics’ Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in the United States in 2017. Critical Access Hospitals ensure that essential healthcare services are available in rural areas, such as northern Michigan.


Munson Medical Center's stroke program is repeatedly recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for high quality care. In 2017, the hospital was once again recognized with both the Gold Plus Achievement and Elite Honor Roll recognition in the national association’s Get with the Guidelines® quality improvement program.


Seven Munson Healthcare system hospitals were named Most Wired for 2017 by the American Hospital Association’s journal Hospitals and Health Networks. Munson Medical Center has been named a Most Wired hospital in seven out of the eight years the list has been published, including, 2011 (Small & Rural), 2012 (Most Improved) and 2013 - 2017.


The American College of Surgeons reverified Munson Medical Center as a Level II Trauma Center in 2015. It was first verified in 2006.


Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort received national recognition for excellence in healthcare quality for the second year in a row. The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health recognized the hospital along with 14 others in the state with its “Performance Leadership Award” for 2017.


Kalkaska Memorial Health Center has been named a “top performing” U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Home for 2017-18. The magazine evaluated more than 15,000 homes nationwide. The 104-bed long-term care facility rated 4.8 stars out of 5 overall and was rated a top nursing home in the magazine’s 2016-17 list as well.


The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have awarded Paul Oliver Living and Rehabilitation Center Five Stars for Overall Quality.

Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care

Munson Healthcare hospitals also have been recognized for high quality by achieving Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Distinction Center (Designated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association) designation for: