Best hospitals for hip arthroplasty: Evidence, rankings, and patient considerations

People researching the best hospitals for hip arthroplasty are often comparing orthopedic rankings, joint-replacement outcomes, and access to experienced surgical teams. Available evidence shows that hospital reputation can be a useful starting point, but meaningful comparison also requires attention to complications, readmissions, patient experience, procedure volume, rehabilitation arrangements, and the complexity of each patient’s condition.

How hospital rankings apply to hip arthroplasty

Hospital for Special Surgery in New York was reported as No. 1 in orthopedics in Newsweek’s “America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 2026.” The Newsweek and Statista methodology incorporated a nationwide survey of medical professionals and hospital managers, patient-experience information, patient-reported outcome measures, and specialty-specific safety and quality measures. This is a broad orthopedic distinction rather than a hip-arthroplasty-only score, so it should be interpreted as an indicator of institutional orthopedic scope, not a guarantee of an individual result.1

A separate report described HSS as the No. 1 orthopedic hospital in the U.S. News & World Report 2026-2027 specialty rankings for the 17th consecutive year. That assessment considered patient outcomes, nursing care, patient-reported experience, and available technology, including computer-assisted orthopedic surgery, across nearly 4,500 hospitals. Rankings can help identify established programs, but they do not replace a review of the specific surgeon, procedure, implant strategy, and risk profile relevant to a patient.2

Hospitals with hip-specific quality recognition

Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received a Blue Distinction Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in December 2025. The designation uses objective measures developed through a partnership involving the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, with assessments addressing patient safety, outcomes, and cost efficiency. The designation therefore provides a different type of evidence from a reputation-based national ranking.3

Sanford reported that designated knee and hip replacement facilities averaged 21% fewer readmissions and 21% fewer complications within 90 days, as well as 30% lower costs than other facilities in that specialty category. Those figures describe the designation program’s reported comparative performance, not a prediction for every patient or hospital. Facilities must also meet organizational requirements, including full accreditation from at least one national accrediting organization, according to the published criteria.3

Examples of reported orthopedic performance

Novato Community Hospital, part of Sutter Health, was reported by Healthgrades as No. 5 in California for Joint Replacement. The hospital also received recognition as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement and ranked among the top 5% nationally for joint replacement for two consecutive years, 2025-2026. Its reported distinctions included a five-star rating for total hip replacement for three consecutive years, 2024-2026, although award definitions and methodologies should be reviewed before comparing them directly with other systems.4

Cleveland Clinic provides another example of a large academic system with nationally ranked orthopedic services. Its 2026-2027 U.S. News report placed orthopedics at No. 21 in a tie and listed the organization on the national Honor Roll, with national rankings in 13 of 14 specialties. Such breadth may matter for patients with multiple medical conditions or unusually complex cases, but a general hospital ranking does not specifically measure total hip arthroplasty outcomes for every location in a health system.5

Access, location, and regional models

In Ontario, the Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative connects Sunnybrook’s Holland Centre, Michael Garron Hospital, and Unity Health with support from Ontario Health. The partnership combines resources and operating-room capacity, including weekend operating time at the Holland Centre, and reports that the model can allow more than 1,000 additional patients each year to receive hip or knee replacement surgery. The program illustrates how regional coordination can affect access and waiting times without representing a single national ranking.6

Access arrangements may determine which hospital is practical, particularly where referrals pass through centralized intake or rapid-access assessment. The Toronto model requires primary-care assessment, referral to an orthopedic specialist, and evaluation at a Rapid Access Clinic before an eligible patient receives a surgical consultation. Comparable processes vary by region, insurer, and health system. Geographic convenience should therefore be weighed alongside clinical suitability, follow-up logistics, and the ability to attend rehabilitation appointments.6

What the procedure and eligibility review may involve

EPIC Multispecialty Hospital in Ahmedabad describes a program covering primary total hip arthroplasty, partial hip replacement, hip resurfacing, and revision surgery. Total replacement involves prosthetic components for both the femoral head and acetabulum, while hemiarthroplasty replaces only the femoral head and is commonly associated with displaced femoral-neck fractures in older patients. Revision surgery addresses failed replacements related to issues such as loosening, infection, wear, or implant fracture, and generally requires more technically specialized planning.7

Patient selection should be based on the underlying hip condition, symptoms, functional limitations, imaging, prior treatment, general health, and the surgeon’s assessment. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes total hip replacement as a treatment requiring discussion of indications, risks, and recovery, while Mayo Clinic emphasizes preparation, potential complications, and rehabilitation considerations. A hospital’s reputation cannot determine eligibility, and a highly ranked program may still recommend nonoperative care or additional evaluation in an individual case.1011

Measures to compare beyond reputation

Medicare’s Care Compare tool provides hospital-level information that can include outcomes, patient experience, and other quality measures. The Leapfrog Hospital Ratings program separately assesses safety measures involving preventable medical errors, infections, and related issues. These tools do not create a complete hip-arthroplasty profile, but they can add independent context to institutional claims and awards, especially when a hospital’s marketing materials emphasize recognition without presenting procedure-specific data.912

A structured comparison should examine risk-adjusted complications, readmissions, infection rates, patient-reported outcomes, surgeon experience with primary and revision procedures, implant options, anesthesia planning, rehabilitation arrangements, and insurance participation. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and AHRQ resources provide evidence-based information about effectiveness, safety, and recovery issues. Patients should also ask whether published figures apply to the exact hospital campus and surgeon, how outcomes are adjusted for complex cases, and what follow-up care is available after discharge.1012

Sources

1. Hospital for Special Surgery, “HSS Ranked No. 1 in Orthopedics in Newsweek’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care”
2. MedPath Trial, “HSS Extends Record-Breaking Streak with 17th Consecutive No. 1 Orthopedics Ranking”
3. Sanford Health News, “Sanford USD Medical Center earns knee/hip replacement honor”
4. Sutter Health Vitals, “Sutter Earns Top Honors for Orthopedic Care”
5. Cleveland Clinic Newsroom, “Cleveland Clinic One of the Nation’s Best Hospitals”
6. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, “Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative”
7. EPIC Multispecialty Hospital, “Best Hip Replacement Surgery in Ahmedabad”
8. U.S. News & World Report, National Orthopedics Rankings
9. Medicare.gov, Care Compare Hospital Tool
10. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Total Hip Replacement
11. Mayo Clinic, Hip Replacement
12. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Hip Replacement Evidence Review Resources