Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals Receive the 2026 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience

Fredericksburg, VA, (February 19, 2026) – Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals have been recognized as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award®, placing them among the top-performing hospitals nationwide for delivering exceptional care in outpatient settings.

As hospitals continue to shift toward value-based care and adopt minimally invasive technologies, more procedures are being performed on an outpatient basis. This shift has prompted hospitals to enhance customer service and streamline care coordination to improve the overall patient experience.

“Overnight hospital stays can be stressful and costly,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award®. “With more procedures now available on an outpatient basis, it’s essential that women—who often juggle demanding schedules—can easily identify hospitals that offer safe, convenient, and compassionate care.”

According to national research, 82% of consumers would switch healthcare providers due to poor experience, making patient satisfaction a critical factor in hospital selection.

Award Methodology

The Women’s Choice Award® for Outpatient Experience is the only national designation that combines patient satisfaction, clinical excellence, and women’s healthcare preferences to identify top-performing hospitals.

To qualify, hospitals must be accredited by one of the following:

• The Joint Commission (TJC)

• Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)

• Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ)

• Det Norske Veritas Healthcare (DNV)

Score at or above the national average in key categories from the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Survey (OAS-CAHPS), including:

• Care by hospital staff

• Pre- and post-surgical coordination & communication

• Facility ratings

• Patient recommendation scores

Survey categories are weighted based on feedback from the Women’s Choice Award’s proprietary research on women’s healthcare preferences.

Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals are two of 450 hospitals nationwide to earn this prestigious recognition for 2026.

“Earning the Women’s Choice Award® for Outpatient Experience is a meaningful reflection of our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering high‑quality, compassionate care to every patient we serve, said Christopher Newman, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Mary Washington Healthcare. “Outpatient services are a vital part of how our community accesses healthcare, and this recognition affirms that Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals are providing safe, seamless, and patient‑centered care at every step. We are proud of our teams and grateful to our patients for placing their trust in us.”

For the full list of America’s Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience, visit: https://womenschoiceaward.com/best-outpatient-experience

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About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional healthcare system that provides inpatient and outpatient care at more than 80 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed tertiary hospital; Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital; four emergency departments, and a multi-specialty graduate medical education program. Mary Washington Healthcare is a non-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to providing care regardless of patients’ ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.

About the Women’s Choice Award®

The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals™ is a trusted referral source and a prestigious credential that identifies the nation’s top hospitals based on rigorous criteria, including clinical performance, patient satisfaction, and relevant accreditations. Hospitals earning this designation demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering exceptional care and prioritizing the health and well-being of their patients.

As the only award that incorporates the preferences of women in its methodology, the Women’s Choice Award empowers women to make informed healthcare decisions with confidence. In fact, 84% of women say they would trust a hospital more if it carried the Women’s Choice Award seal, making it a powerful symbol of quality and trust.

To learn more, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com.