The 25-26 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ratings of American hospitals examined more than 880 hospitals for their proficiency and effectiveness at treating cancer in adult patients.  The study examined various cancer treatment factors, including patient outcomes, patient experience, the volume of high-risk patients, nurse staffing, and the utilization of advanced clinical technologies.  Eight hospitals from the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 25-26 survey.  The eight hospitals in the Southeastern U.S. that rated nationally for adult cancer care in the 25-26 USNWR survey included:

The Top Cancer Hospitals in the Southeastern U.S.

1. Moffitt Cancer Center
   Location:  Tampa, FL
   National Rank:  #23 (See ranking details)
   
   
2. Mayo Clinic in Florida

   Location:  Jacksonville, FL

   National Rank:  #24 (See ranking details)
   
   
3. AdventHealth Cancer Institute

   Location:  Orlando, FL

   National Rank:  #30 (See ranking details)
   
   
4. Duke University Hospital

   Location:  Durham, NC

   National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)
   
   
5. UF Health Shands Hospital
   

   Location:  Gainesville, FL

   National Rank:  #39 (See ranking details)
   
   
6. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center-University of Miami

   Location:  Miami, FL

   National Rank:  #45 (See ranking details)
   
   
7. Vanderbilt University Medical Center

   Location: Nashville, TN

   National Rank:  #47 (See ranking details)
   
   
8. UNC Hospitals

   Location:  Chapel Hill, NC

   National Rank:  #48 (See ranking details)

For further information on the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Southeastern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.  

Patient surveys done periodically by the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) aim to measure user satisfaction with recent stays at hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS survey solicits input from recent patients about their inpatient stays, then amalgamates that information into a unified patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with the scale's best score being 5-stars.  Based on the most current CMS patient surveys, eight Iowa hospitals earned a five-star rating from patients.  Listed alphabetically, here are the hospitals in Iowa that rated as five-stars for patient experience according to CMS surveys (as of April 13, 2026):

Iowa Hospitals Rated Five-Star in CMS Patient Surveys

1. Buena Vista Regional Medical Center
   Location:  Storm Lake
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2. Compass Memorial Healthcare
   Location:  Marengo
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3. Iowa Specialty Hospital - Clarion
   Location:  Clarion
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4. Kossuth Regional Health Center
   Location:  Algona
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5. Lakes Regional Healthcare
   Location:  Spirit Lake
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6. Myrtue Medical Center
   Location:  Harlan
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7. Orange City Area Health System
   Location:  Orange City
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8. St Anthony Regional Hospital
   Location:  Carroll
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EMT Pay in the Great Lakes States

Data made available earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that over 178,000 EMTs (emergency medical technicians) were employed in the United States as of May 2024. The five Great Lakes states accounted for over 25,000 of those EMT jobs. Other than in Illinois, which ranked among the five best states in the nation for EMT annual mean wages, the Great Lakes region is a generally weak one for EMT pay.  Three other states in the region, which accounted for just over half of the region's EMT employment, all recorded an annual mean wage level for EMTs that was below the national average. Further examination of May 2024 BLS data revealed the following about EMT pay in the Great Lakes states:

EMT and Paramedic Pay in the Great Lakes States

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	8,480	$53,730	4th
IN	3,760	$42,310	27th
MI	4,160	$41,920	28th
OH	5,190	$40,450	34th
WI	4,000	$44,670	22nd
U.S.	178,010	$43,914	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 16, 2026

In its most current occupational data reports, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were over 248,000 physical therapists (PTs) employed in the United States as of May 2024.  At that time, nearly 37,850 of those employed as physical therapists in the U.S. lived in the six-state Far West region of the country.  The Far West region was the best in the nation for PT pay, with three states in the region ranking among the ten best states in the U.S. for physical therapist annual mean wages.  That included California and Nevada, which rated #1 and #2, respectively, for that pay metric for physical therapists.  A closer look at BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about PT employment and physical therapist pay in the Far West region:

Physical Therapist Pay in the Far West Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	600	$113,190	3rd
CA	24,380	$120,970	1st
HI	990	$100,900	18th
NV	1,670	$113,700	2nd
OR	3,000	$104,150	11th
WA	5,460	$102,830	14th
U.S.	248,620	$99,913	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 15, 2026

In the 25-26 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, more than 880 hospitals were examined for their effectiveness and proficiency at treating cancer in adult patients.  The study examines a variety of cancer treatment factors, including patient outcomes, the number of high-risk patients, patient experience, staffing, and the use of advanced clinical technologies.  Four New England hospitals rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 25-26 survey, including two that rated among the five best hospitals in the nation for adult cancer care.  Here's a summary view of these four New England institutions and where they rated nationally for adult cancer care in the 25-26 U.S. News survey:

The Top Cancer Hospitals in New England

1. Dana Farber Brigham Cancer Center
   Location:  Boston
   National Rank:  #3 (See ranking details)
   
   
2. Massachusetts General Hospital
   Location:  Boston
   National Rank:  #5 (See ranking details)
   
   
3. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
   Location:  Boston

   National Rank:  #22 (See ranking details)
   
   
4. Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven
   Location:  New Haven, CT

   National Rank:  #43 (See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to grade adult cancer care hospitals in the 25-26 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care ratings of other hospitals in New England, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts periodic surveys to gauge adult patient satisfaction with their recent hospital stays at hospitals that treat Medicaid and Medicare plan enrollees. The CMS ratings methodology involves consolidating patient responses to questions about recent hospital stays into a single patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with five stars being the best score on the scale.  As of April 12, 2026, twenty-four hospitals in Wisconsin earned five-stars on CMS patient surveys, giving Wisconsin more CMS patient-rated five-star hospitals than any other state in the nation.  From CMS patient satisfaction surveys, here are the 24 hospitals in Wisconsin that rated as five-stars for patient experience (listed alphabetically):

Wisconsin Hospitals with Five-Star CMS Patient Survey Ratings

1. Amery Hospital & Clinic
   

   Location:  Amery

   View Rating Details
   
   
2. Black River Memorial Hospital
   Location:  Black River Falls
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3. Crossing Rivers Health Medical Center
   Location:  Prairie Du Chien
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4. Door County Medical Center
   Location:  Sturgeon Bay
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5. Froedtert Community Hospital
   Location:  New Berlin
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6. Grant Regional Health Center
   Location:  Lancaster
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7. Madison VA Medical Center
   Location:  Madison
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8. Marshfield Medical Center - Minocqua
   Location:  Minocqua
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9. Marshfield Medical Center - Park Falls (formerly Flambeau Hospital)
   Location:  Park Falls
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10. Mayo Clinic Health System-Northland
    Location:  Barron
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11. Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
    Location:  Franklin
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12. OakLeaf Surgical Hospital
    Location:  Altoona
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13. Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin
    Location:  Glendale
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14. Prairie Ridge Health (formerly Columbus Community Hospital)
    Location:  Columbus
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15. River Falls Area Hospital
    Location:  River Falls
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16. Sauk Prairie Hospital
    Location:  Prairie Du Sac
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17. Southwest Health Center
    Location:  Platteville
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18. Stoughton Hospital
    Location:  Stoughton
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19. Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center
    Location: Ashland
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20. Tamarack Health Hayward Medical Center
    Location: Hayward
    View Rating Details
    
    
21. Tomah Memorial Hospital
    Location: Tomah
    View Rating Details
    
    
22. Upland Hills Health
    Location: Dodgeville
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23. Vernon Memorial Hospital
    Location: Viroqua
    View Rating Details
    
    
24. Westfields Hospital and Clinic
    Location: New Richmond
    View Rating Details
    

The CMS also examines the quality of care delivered at Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals.  For a look at which Wisconsin hospitals rate high for quality, check out CMS Five Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Wisconsin.

Recently published May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there were over 1,310,000 nursing assistants employed in the USA.  Approximately 136,000 of those nursing assistant jobs were in the seven-state Great Plains region of the country. Although Minnesota ranked in the top 15 nationally for nursing assistant pay, the BLS data shows the Great Plains region to be a relatively weak one for nursing assistant pay, with annual mean wage levels in five of the remaining six states in the region falling below the national average for nursing assistants.  BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following about nursing assistant pay in the Great Plains region of the U.S.:

Nursing Assistant Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	22,970	$35,120	27th
KS	23,950	$33,490	34th
MN	26,970	$42,480	12th
MO	32,650	$32,760	41st
NE	16,490	$35,020	26th
ND	6,920	$38,200	21st
SD	6,520	$32,330	37th
U.S.	1,338,510	$41,173	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April, 3, 2026

Patient surveys conducted by the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) aim to gauge user satisfaction with recent stays at hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. The CMS survey solicits feedback from recent patients about their inpatient stays, then aggregates those responses into a unified patient satisfaction rating on a 1 to 5-star scale, with 5-stars being the scale's best score.  Based on the most current CMS patient surveys, only three Utah hospitals earned a five-star rating from patients.  Listed alphabetically, here are the hospitals in Utah that rated as five-stars for patient experience according to CMS surveys (as of March 30, 2026):

Utah Hospitals Rated Five-Star in CMS Patient Surveys

1. Cache Valley Hospital
   Location:  North Logan
   View Rating Details
   
   
2. Cedar City Hospital
   Location:  Cedar City
   View Rating Details
   
   
3. Intermountain Health Heber Valley Hospital
   Location:  Heber City
   View Rating Details
   

The CMS also rates the quality of care delivered at Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals.  While only three Utah hospitals rated five-stars with patients, nine earned five-star ratings for quality from the CMS.  For a look at which Utah hospitals rate high for quality, check out Five Star Quality Acute Care Hospitals in Utah.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most current occupational employment estimates put the number of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technologists at work in the United States at more than 41,000 as of May 2024.  At that time, the five-state Rocky Mountain region had an estimated 1,320 working MRI technologists according to BLS figures.  In general, the Rocky Mountain region was a good one for MRI technologist pay, as nearly 84% of the region's MRI technologists lived in a state that recorded an annual mean wage level for the profession that was higher than the national average.  A closer examination of May 2024 BLS data provides the following state-level details about MRI technologist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

MRI Technologist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	690	$97,790	16th
ID	120	$100,00	12th
MT	120	$83,830	30th
UT	310	$91,740	22nd
WY	80	$85,850	28th
U.S.	41,560	$89,999	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on April 1, 2026