Birmingham once again leads Alabama’s healthcare rankings, with UAB Hospital earning the state’s top spot in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals list.
UAB Leads Alabama in National Rankings
UAB Hospital ranked as the No. 1 Best Regional Hospital in Alabama in the 2026-2027 Best Hospitals report. It was also the only hospital in the state to receive nationally ranked specialties.
The hospital placed No. 11 nationally for rheumatology and No. 48 for obstetrics and gynecology. In addition, UAB earned high-performing ratings in five specialty areas: cancer, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology and lung surgery, and rehabilitation.
The report also recognized the hospital for high performance in 18 procedures and conditions, including heart failure, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, maternity care, lung cancer surgery, kidney failure, and hip fracture treatment.
Additionally, UAB was the only Alabama hospital named to the Best Regional Hospitals for Community Access list, which recognizes hospitals that provide strong care for underserved communities.
Birmingham Dominates Statewide Hospital Rankings
Birmingham was the only metro area in Alabama to receive its own hospital rankings in this year’s report. The city’s top three hospitals were UAB Hospital, UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham, and Grandview Medical Center.
Those facilities also claimed three of the six hospitals recognized on Alabama’s statewide Best Regional Hospitals list, highlighting Birmingham’s leadership in healthcare across the state.
Meanwhile, Huntsville Hospital, Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, and Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan rounded out the statewide rankings.
Rehabilitation Care Earns New Recognition
This year’s report introduced regional specialty rankings, including rehabilitation. Birmingham hospitals performed especially well in the new category.
UAB Hospital, Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital, and Encompass Health Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital all earned recognition. Together, they accounted for half of the six Alabama hospitals included in the state’s rehabilitation rankings.
Overall, the latest report reinforces Birmingham’s position as Alabama’s leading healthcare hub, with nationally recognized specialties and several top-performing hospitals serving patients across the region.
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