Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Amy Meyer | Mineral Wells Area News

Palo Pinto General Hospital has received multiple national recognitions in 2026 for patient care, clinical quality and patient safety, earning honors from Healthgrades, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Heart Association.

Among the hospital’s highest distinctions is the 2026 Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™, which places Palo Pinto General Hospital among the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience. The award is based on patient survey data and evaluates hospitals on physician and nurse communication, staff responsiveness, cleanliness, quietness, discharge information and overall patient satisfaction.

The hospital also maintained a CMS 5-Star Cleanliness Rating, based on patient responses to the national Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The rating reflects patients’ evaluations of the hospital’s cleanliness during their stay.

In addition to patient experience honors, the American Heart Association recognized the hospital with three Get With The Guidelines® Achievement Awards for following nationally recognized, evidence-based treatment guidelines for heart attack and stroke patients.

The awards include:

• Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Gold Achievement Award
• Coronary Artery Disease Chest Pain Bronze Plus Achievement Award
• Rural Stroke Silver Achievement Award

Hospital officials said the recognitions also reflect measurable progress from the previous year. Palo Pinto General Hospital improved from Silver to Gold in Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS care and advanced from Bronze to Silver in Rural Stroke care.

“These recognitions are meaningful because they are based on independent evaluations and, in many cases, on feedback directly from our patients,” said Ross Korkmas, Chief Executive Officer of Palo Pinto General Hospital. “They reflect the dedication our employees and medical staff demonstrate every day to provide safe, high-quality care close to home. While we’re proud of these achievements, we’re even more focused on continuing to improve and finding new ways to better serve our community.”

Beth Teverbaugh, the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, said every department contributes to the patient experience.

“Every member of our team plays a role in creating a positive experience for our patients,” Teverbaugh said. “Whether it’s providing evidence-based care during a medical emergency, maintaining a clean environment, communicating with patients and families, or simply showing compassion, every interaction matters. These recognitions reflect our commitment to continually improving while keeping our patients at the center of everything we do.”

Hospital officials said the awards represent a broad commitment to quality healthcare, with recognitions spanning patient satisfaction, environmental cleanliness and evidence-based clinical care.

Palo Pinto General Hospital, operated by the Palo Pinto County Hospital District, provides healthcare services throughout the region with locations in Mineral Wells, Graham, Gordon and Santo. The hospital offers emergency care, primary care, specialty services and physical therapy to patients across Palo Pinto County and surrounding communities.