Aiken Regional Earns a U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Award

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Exterior view of Aiken Regional at night

US News pacemaker badgeAiken Regional Medical Centers has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals edition as a High Performing hospital for Pacemaker Implantation. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings. U.S. News’ annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their healthcare providers in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.

“Our team is honored to be recognized for our excellence in pacemaker implantation,” said Matt Merrifield, CEO of Aiken Regional Medical Centers. “The national recognition reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to providing high-quality, safe, compassionate care with excellent outcomes. We provide heart care that our patients and community trust, and we remain dedicated to serving as a recognized leader in cardiac care.”

“For more than three decades, U.S. News has been an invaluable guide for patients,” said Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis Ben Harder at U.S. News. “Hospitals designated as ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News demonstrate a consistent ability to provide excellent care for particular medical procedures and conditions, showcasing their specialized expertise as well as dedication to exceptional patient outcomes.”

U.S. News evaluated more than 4,400 hospitals across 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions; only one third of them earned an award. To determine the Best Hospitals, U.S. News analyzed each hospital’s performance based on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from over 800 million records of patient care.

About U.S. News & World Report

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