EAMC Earns Five Women’s Choice Awards as one of America’s Best Hospitals

OPELIKA, Ala.—East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC) has been recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals by the Women’s Choice Award® for Patient Experience, Patient Safety, Cancer Care, Orthopedics, and Minimally Invasive Surgery.  

“East Alabama Health strives to provide high-quality, compassionate health care for all our patients, and these recognitions highlight our dedication to upholding that mission,” said Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health. “Facing a health challenge can be frightening, and that is why every member of our organization is committed to ensuring our patients feel safe, well-cared-for and achieve the best outcomes possible.”

Here is a look at each award and its criteria:

Cancer Care: EAMC earned the Best Hospital for Cancer Care award because it met the comprehensive cancer care standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, as well as achieving excellence in clinical performance with regard to cancer care measures and for their high patient recommendation rate. In addition, EAMC is recognized for ranking in the top seven percent for cancer care in the nation.

Minimally Invasive Surgery: To be recognized with the Best Hospitals for Minimally Invasive Surgery award, EAMC had to meet the highest standards for surgical safety and quality of care, have a low rate of surgical infections and complications, and be accredited for robotic surgeries. EAMC is recognized as ranking in the top three percent for minimally invasive surgery in the nation, and is also accredited as a Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation.  

Orthopedics: By offering comprehensive orthopedic services, including arthroscopic procedures, spine surgeries, joint replacement and other orthopedic surgeries, as well as on-site physical therapy and MRI imaging, EAMC earned designation as a 2025 Best Hospitals for Orthopedics. EAMC ranks in the top six percent of hospitals nationwide for orthopedics.

Patient Experience: The 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience designation is based on data from the HCAHPS survey, completed by patients after discharge. EAMC was ranked number 65 for patient experience among 524 other hospitals in its size category. For this award, items are weighted based on women’s preferences with the most weight given to the patient’s willingness to recommend, doctor communications, staff help, cleanliness, providing recovery information, explanation of medications, communication by nurses and peacefulness of room at night respectively.  

Patient Safety: EAMC was identified as one of the Best Hospitals for Patient Safety based on having a low incidence of problems arising from surgical errors and infections after reporting their frequency to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). For this award, hospitals were ranked on 13 surgical complication and infection measures along with their patient recommendation scores, and those that averaged in the top half nationally earned the award. EAMC ranked in the top two percent for patient safety in the nation.

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About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital that is currently under construction to add 30 critical care beds. EAMC-Lanier Rural Emergency Hospital provides emergency and outpatient services while its campus also features a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.