Boone Health Named Top 100 National Hospital; Recognized for Patient Experience, Nursing Quality, Top Place to Work

The independent, mid-Missouri hospital has received numerous awards in the past 9 months, placing it in elite company for health care quality, patient care and employee satisfaction.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Over the past 9 months, Boone Health has been recognized with multiple national awards, solidifying its place as one of the best hospitals in the country for health care quality, patient care and employee satisfaction. The most recent award was announced this week, designated as “Hospital Week,” as Healthgrades recognized Boone Health with its 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award.

This latest recognition comes on top of Healthgrades naming Boone Health as a Top 100 Hospital in the nation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ranking Boone Hospital as the only 5-star hospital in mid-Missouri, the American Nurses Credentialing Center giving Boone Health its fifth consecutive Magnet designation for nursing excellence, and Forbes naming Boone Health as a Top 100 place to work in the nation for mid-size employers and No. 6 in the state of Missouri.

“This recognition and the multiple awards have confirmed what many of us have known for years – that Boone Health is an extremely high-quality health care organization, serving our community with the best possible health care professionals, and all while having one of the finest supportive employee cultures in the entire country,” said Brady Dubois, president and CEO of Boone Health. “Mid-Missourians can have the confidence that when they choose Boone Health, whether for primary care, a specialist visit, or a trip to our hospital, they have access to the best care in the country, and our employees love what they are doing.”

Healthgrades evaluated more than 3,000 hospitals for Outstanding Patient Experience using patient survey data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems over a calendar year. Boone Health’s recognition puts it in the top 15% of those hospitals nationwide in patient experience.

“Our amazing, dedicated employees and medical staff know that what we have at Boone Health is very special,” said Dr. Lana Zerrer, chief medical officer for Boone Health. “Our mission—to care for and enhance the quality of life of mid-Missourians—drives each and every one of us every day. This national recognition is a result of the commitment of every Boone Health member and how they interact with every patient and each other. We’re honored to continue serving mid-Missouri and giving everyone who comes to see one of our providers the best care possible.”

“When you are fortunate to find a place like Boone Health where the culture is truly collaborative, you can do great things for your patients,” said Shannon Kuczynski, chief nursing executive for Boone Health. “Our fifth consecutive Magnet designation came about because of the incredibly hard work of Boone’s nursing staff. It’s also important that we not rest on these recognitions and awards but regularly look for better ways to care for our patients. Mid-Missourians should be confident that Boone Health will always be there for them with the highest quality of care.”

Since September 2024, Boone Health has been awarded and/or recognized with the following:

• 5-Star Rating – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Forbes
  • No. 1 place to work in mid-Missouri for mid-sized employers
  • No. 6 place to work in Missouri for mid-sized employers
  • No. 67 place to work in the nation for mid-sized employers.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center
  • Magnet designation five consecutive times (2024, 2019, 2014, 2009, 2005)

Note: Magnet designation is provided to organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence; it is the highest honor for professional nursing. Only 70 hospitals in the world have received Magnet designation five times.

• Healthgrades –
  • America’s 100 Best Hospitals three years in a row (2023-25)
  • Top 15% nationally for Outstanding Patient Experience
  • America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery (in the top 5%)
  • America’s 50 Best Hospitals for both Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement (top 10%)
  • Five-Star recipient for treatment of Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement, Spinal Fusion Surgery, Pneumonia Treatment, Abdominal Aorta Repair, Sepsis Treatment, and Respiratory Failure Treatment.
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“We commend Boone Health for going above and beyond to ensure patients have the best possible experience during their hospital stay and recovery process,” said Dr. Debra Gradick, M.D. FACEP, senior physician consultant at Healthgrades. “Better patient experiences lead to better health outcomes, which is why it’s so important for patients to choose a hospital that excels at providing high-quality, compassionate care.”