Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Maryland

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a star rating methodology to grade the quality of acute care hospitals that service Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS methodology assesses hospital data on several quality-related measures, including data on patient experience, the timeliness of care, mortality experience, readmission rates, and patient safety.  The CMS then calculates a standardized score for each metric and then consolidates the scores into an overall quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the highest score on the scale.  As of November 16, 2025, four (4) acute care hospitals in the state of Maryland earned a CMS five-star quality rating.  Listed alphabetically, here are the five-star quality acute care hospitals in Maryland as rated by CMS:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Maryland

Monday, November 17, 2025

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Southeast

In the most recent (25-26) U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals, more than 800 hospitals were appraised for their proficiency in providing adult heart care.  This analysis scored hospitals on assorted metrics related to the outcomes of their heart patients, the scope of their cardiology programs and services, and the level of recognition earned by these hospitals within the cardiology community.  In the 25-26 ratings, six Southeastern hospitals ranked among the 50 best U.S. hospitals for adult heart care.  Here's a quick look at these top-ranked heart hospitals in the Southeast and where they rated nationally for adult cardiology care and heart surgery in the 25-26 survey:


The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Southeast

The Top-Ranked Heart Hospitals in the Southeast

Location:  Durham, NC
National Ranking: #29 (See ranking details)

AdventHealth Orlando
Location:  Orlando FL
National Ranking:  #36 (See ranking details)

Location:  Jacksonville, FL
National Ranking: #38 (See ranking details)

Location:  Tampa, FL
National Ranking: #43 (See ranking details)

Location:  Nashville, TN
National Ranking:  #49 (See ranking details)

Location:  Orlando, FL
National Ranking:  #50 (See ranking details)

For a deeper dive into the scoring metrics for adult cardiology and heart surgery hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the heart-care ratings of other Southeastern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology Care and Heart Surgery



Friday, November 14, 2025

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational employment data put the number of recreational therapists employed in the United States at more than 14,600 as of May 2024.  At that time, just under 1,700 recreational therapists were employed in the seven-state Great Plains region according to BLS figures.  Although Minnesota ranked as a top ten state for recreational therapist annual mean wages according to BLS data, the Great Plains region was a rather weak one for recreational therapist pay.  Other states in the region registered recreational therapist annual mean wage levels that were below the national average for the profession, with Kansas ranked amongst the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric.  A closer look at May 2024 BLS data provides the following details about recreational therapist pay in the Great Plains region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region
Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
IA 270 $55,430 32nd
KS 710 $42,440 46th
MN 240 $67,870 8th
MO 230 $58,900 23rd
NE 190 $56,650 28th
ND 50 $56,770 26th
SD ------- ------- N/A
U.S. 14,620 $62,644 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 14, 2025

Thursday, November 13, 2025

General Dentist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

There were nearly 122,000 general dentists employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Just under 4,500 of those general dentist jobs were in the five-state Rocky Mountain region.  For general dentists, the region performed poorly relative to the national pay average. No state reported wages above the national benchmark, and three fell into the bottom quartile. Notably, three states ranked in the bottom quintile nationwide for annual mean wages for general dentists..  BLS data from May 2024 details the following about general dentist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

General Dentist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

General Dentist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region


State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
CO 2,330 $143,450 44th
ID 690 $173,570 37th
MT 480 $180,630 30th
UT 740 $148,860 42nd
WY 260 $154,030 41st
U.S. 121,940 $188,952 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 13, 2025

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Wisconsin

Using a five-star rating system, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grades the quality of the more than 4,000 acute care hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid participants. This rating methodology analyzes data from participating hospitals on various quality metrics, calculates a grade for each measure, and then consolidates the grades into a unified quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the best score. For acute care hospitals, the particular metrics examined include patient safety, the timeliness of care, patient experience, readmission rates, and mortality. As of November 12, 2025, thirteen (13) acute care hospitals, including one devoted to veterans' care, in the state of Wisconsin earned a five-star quality rating from the CMS.  Listed here, in alphabetical order, are the hospitals rated as CMS five-star quality acute care hospitals in Wisconsin:

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Wisconsin

Monday, November 10, 2025

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Utah

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) utilizes a star rating methodology to grade the quality of acute care hospitals that treat Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. This methodology assesses hospital data on several quality-related measures, including data on the timeliness of care, mortality experience, readmission rates, patient safety, and patient experience.  The CMS then computes a standardized score for each measure and consolidates the scores into an all-embracing overall quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the scale's best score.  As of November 10, 2025, nine (9) acute care hospitals in the state of Utah earned a CMS five-star quality rating.  Alphabetically listed, here are the five-star quality acute care hospitals in Utah as rated by CMS:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Utah

Friday, November 7, 2025

Optometrist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 40,000 optometrists were employed in the United States as of May 2024. At that time, approximately 4,550 optometrists were working across the four-state Southwestern U.S. region. BLS data indicated that this region was relatively weak in terms of optometrist pay. While New Mexico ranked among the top 10 states for annual mean wage, it accounted for less than 3% of the region’s optometrists. Nearly 78% of optometrists in the region earned below the national average. A closer look at BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about optometrist pay in the Southwestern United States:

Optometrist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

Optometrist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AZ 960 $139,300 22nd
NM 140 $159,800 7th
OK 580 $105,920 48th
TX 3,180 $132,370 31st
U.S. 40,900 $137,190 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 7, 2025

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published data earlier this year indicating that, as of May 2024, there were over 185,900 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the United States.  More than 40,000 of those HSW jobs were in the five-state Mid-Eastern U.S. region.  BLS data revealed the Mid-Eastern U.S. to be a mixed bag for healthcare social worker pay.  Although New Jersey and DC recorded an annual mean wage level for healthcare social workers that ranked in the top 5 nationally, more than 90% of the Mid-Eastern region's HSW jobs were in states where that pay metric was at or below the national average for the profession. An examination of BLS data from May 2024 produced the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
DC
DE
490
710
$92,240
$66,300
2nd
32nd
MD 5,430 $66,910 28th
NJ 4,390 $87,110 3rd
NY 22,880 $72,480 16th
PA 6,560 $65,940 35th


U.S. 185,940 $69,904 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 5, 2025

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Washington

Using a five-star rating methodology, the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) grades the quality of over 4,000 acute care hospitals that treat Medicaid and Medicare participants. The CMS rating methodology involves analyzing data from participating hospitals on key quality of care measures, calculating a score for each metric, and then aggregating the scores into a unified quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the high score on the scale. The particular metrics studied for acute care hospitals include the timeliness of care, patient safety, patient experience, readmission rates, and mortality. As of November 5, 2025, nine (9) acute care hospitals, including two devoted to veterans' care, in the state of Washington earned a five-star quality rating from the CMS.  Listed here, in alphabetical order, are the hospitals rated as CMS five-star quality acute care hospitals in Washington:

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Washington

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data earlier this year that reported over 14,000 recreational therapists employed in the United States as of May 2024.  Just over 400 of the nation's recreational therapists were employed in the five-state Rocky Mountain region according to the BLS.  Relative to the rest of the country, BLS data shows the region to be a weak one for recreational therapist pay, with no states in the region having an annual mean wage for recreational therapists that was better than the national average.  A closer study of May 2024 BLS data details the following about recreational therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region


State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
CO N/A $62,040 16th
ID 90 $54,390 34th
MT 40 $58,130 25th
UT 260 $56,740 27th
WY 30 $61,270 19th
U.S. 14,620 $62,644 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 30, 2025

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Kansas

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses a star rating methodology to rate the quality of acute care hospitals that service Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. This rating methodology assesses hospital data on several quality-related metrics, including data on the timeliness of care, mortality experience, patient safety, readmission rates, and patient experience.  The CMS then calculates a standardized score for each metric and consolidates the scores into a unified overall quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the best score on the scale.  As of October 27, 2025, eight (8) acute care hospitals in the state of Kansas earned a CMS five-star quality rating.  Alphabetically listed, here are the five-star quality acute care hospitals in Kansas as rated by CMS:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Kansas

Monday, October 27, 2025

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Indiana

Using a five-star rating methodology, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grades the quality of the more than 4,000 acute care hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid participants. The CMS rating methodology analyzes hospital-submitted data on various quality metrics, computes a score for each measure, and then aggregates the scores into a comprehensive quality grade on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the top score. The metrics examined for acute care hospitals include mortality rates, patient safety, the timeliness of care, patient experience, and readmission rates. As of October 25, 2025, twelve (12) acute care hospitals in the state of Indiana, including two devoted to veterans' care, earned a five-star quality rating from the CMS.  Listed in alphabetical order, here are the hospitals rated as CMS five-star quality acute care hospitals in Indiana:

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Indiana

Friday, October 24, 2025

General Dentist Pay in the Great Plains Region

Nearly 122,000 general dentists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Per BLS data, just over 7,790 of those employed general dentists worked in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country.  Although home to three states ranked among the ten best in the nation for general dentist annual mean wages, on the whole the region was a subpar one in terms of pay, as nearly 64% of the region's dentists lived in states where the annual mean wage for general dentists was below the national average.  A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data details the following about general dentist pay in the Great Plains region:

General Dentist Pay in the Great Plains Region
General Dentist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
IA 850 $216,520 6th
KS 1,240 $172,120 38th
MN 2,500 $224,700 3rd
MO 1,980 N/A N/A
NE 740 $185,360 26th
ND 210 $224,300 4th
SD 270 $166,690 40th
U.S. 121,940 $188,952 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 24, 2025

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Optometrist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest occupational employment figures estimated that more than 40,800 optometrists were working in the United States as of May 2024.  At that time, an estimated 8,680 optometrists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S region. BLS data shows the region to be a relatively poor one for optometrist pay.  Although having two states (Kentucky and North Carolina) that ranked among the top ten states in the country for optometrist annual mean wages, nine of twelve Southeastern states were below the national average for that optometrist pay metric.  Moreover, those nine states were home to over 80% of the region's employed optometrists.  A closer look into BLS data from May 2024 details the following about optometrist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Optometrist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

Optometrist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AL 470 $125,860 39th
AR 350 $124,990 41st
FL 2,280 $132,350 32nd
GA 860 $132,250 33rd
KY 500 $154,120 9th
LA 230 $127,470 37th
MS 250 $127,920 36th
NC 1,400 $159,420 3rd
SC 480 $123,900 42th
TN 590 $125,970 38th
VA 1,120 N/A N/A
WV 150 $136,210 25th
U.S. 40,900 $137,190 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 23, 2025

Monday, October 20, 2025

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in New England

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently published May 2024 statistics that reported that over 185,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) were employed in the United States at that time.  Nearly 11,600 of those HSW jobs were in the six-state New England region.  BLS data further revealed New England to be a relatively good one for healthcare social worker pay.  All states reported an annual mean wage for healthcare social workers that was above the national average, furthermore four New England states ranked among the ten best states in the nation for healthcare social worker annual mean wages. May 2024 BLS data tells us the following about healthcare social worker pay in New England:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in New England

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in New England

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
CT 2,010 $85,570 4th
MA 7,540 $71,210 14th
ME 590 $74,510 17th
NH 530 $79,400 9th
RI 570 $78,560 10th
VT 300 $81,580 6th
U.S. 185,940 $69,904 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 20, 2025

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in South Carolina

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) employs a star rating system to appraise the quality of acute care hospitals that service Medicaid and Medicare recipients. This rating methodology appraises participating hospital data on several quality metrics, including the timeliness of care, patient safety, readmission rates, patient experience, and mortality. Utilizing a multi-step analysis, the CMS computes a standardized score for each metric, then compiles the scores into a consolidated quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with the scale's best score being 5-stars. Based on this CMS analysis, as of October 13, 2025, only eight (8) acute care hospitals, two of which are veteran's medical centers, in the state of South Carolina earned a five-star quality rating.  Alphabetically listed, here are the hospitals rated by the CMS as five-star quality acute care hospitals in South Carolina:

Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in South Carolina

Friday, October 17, 2025

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released data reporting that there were more than 14,000 recreational therapists employed in the United States as of May 2024.  About 1,700 recreational therapists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region according to BLS reports.  Relative to the rest of the nation, BLS data shows the region to be a modestly weak one for recreational therapist pay, with only one state in the region registering an annual mean wage for recreational therapists that was above the national average.  A closer look at May 2024 BLS data reveals the following about recreational therapist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

Recreational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
IL 290 $67,720 9th
IN 220 $55,350 33rd
MI 450 $61,970 17th
OH 310 $61,250 20th
WI 430 $58,580 24th
U.S. 14,620 $62,644 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 17, 2025

Thursday, October 16, 2025

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Minnesota

Using a five-star rating system, the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) grades the quality of the more than 4,000 acute care hospitals that treat Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. This rating methodology analyzes hospital-submitted data on various quality metrics, calculates a score for each measure, and then aggregates the scores into a unified quality rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the highest score. The particular metrics examined for acute care hospitals include patient safety, the timeliness of care, patient experience, readmission rates, and mortality. As of October 13, 2025, nine (9) acute care hospitals, including one devoted to veterans' care, in the state of Minnesota earned a five-star quality rating from the CMS.  Listed here, in alphabetical order, are the hospitals rated as CMS five-star quality acute care hospitals in Minnesota:

CMS Five-Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Minnesota

General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States

About 121,940 general dentists were employed in the U.S. as of May 2024 according to data recently published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Nearly 21,000 general dentists were working in the six-state Far Western region of the country.  For general dentists, the region is a mixed bag in terms of pay relative to the national average.  About two-thirds of the Far West’s general dentists practice in California, where the average annual wage for general dentists falls below the national mean. However, three other states in the region—Alaska, Oregon, and Washington—reported average annual wages for general dentists that exceed the national average. An examination of BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about general dentist pay in Far Western U.S. states:

General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States

General Dentist Pay in Far Western U.S. States

State # Employed Annual Mean Wages Wage Rank*
AK 260 $202,250 17th
CA 14,760 $184,350 29th
HI 570 $136,200 46th
NV 1,040 $146,480 43rd
OR 1,180 $209,670 9th
WA 3,100 $203,780 13th
U.S. 121,940 $189,551 -------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 16, 2025