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