Griffin Hospital, of Derby, CT, has been named one of the nation’s top hospitals for orthopedic surgery by Money magazine in its inaugural Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery 2026 rankings.
Griffin was first in Connecticut and 13th in the country, scoring an “A+” orthopedic grade that places Griffin among an elite group of 75 hospitals nationwide selected for excellence in orthopedic care, patient outcomes, and clinical expertise.
“This recognition reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering advanced, exceptional, and person-centered care orthopedic care that is low-cost, high-quality and focused on improving the health and well-being of our patients,” said Griffin Health President and CEO Patrick Charmel.
Money’s methodology for identifying its best hospitals combines federal quality data, physician expertise metrics, and proprietary analysis to identify high-performing hospitals. To be considered, hospitals first had to receive a four- or five-star overall quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), based on key factors including mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timely, effective care. Patient experience ratings were also used as a standalone eligibility filter. CMS data accounts for 25% of each hospital’s overall score.
A significant portion of the ranking, 65 percent, is based on orthopedic expertise, including:
- Depth and experience of orthopedic physicians and specialists
- Frequency and volume of orthopedic procedures
- Performance on hip and knee readmission rates
- Specialty certifications from The Joint Commission
- Whether orthopedic care represents a core focus of the hospital
These insights were powered by data from Denniston Data and Definitive Healthcare.
The remaining 10 percent of the score reflects broader hospital excellence, including:
- Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Lantern Awards from the Emergency Nurses Association
- Participation in clinical trials and academic research
In addition to ranking hospitals, Money evaluated each facility’s price transparency practices. While not factored into rankings, this grade assesses how closely a hospital’s listed prices align with actual payments, offering patients greater insight into potential costs.
Beyond the data, each hospital underwent an editorial review to identify potential concerns related to patient safety or quality of care. Only hospitals meeting these standards were included in the final list.
About Griffin Health
Griffin Health is a not-for-profit health care system that includes the award-winning Griffin Hospital, an independent community teaching hospital located in Derby, Connecticut and its integrated medical practice Griffin Faculty Physicians. Griffin Hospital is a 160-bed acute care community hospital serving more than 130,000 residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Region.
Griffin Hospital is the flagship hospital for Planetree, an international consumer healthcare organization dedicated to promoting patient-centered care, and has received national recognition for creating a healthcare facility and an approach to patient care that is responsive to the needs of the whole person and their loved ones. Griffin’s commitment to the patient-centered care philosophy enhances its mission to improve the well-being of its communities by empowering individuals with health education, wellness programs and assistance with conditions that adversely affect health. Many healthcare organizations around the world send visitors to Griffin Hospital’s facilities and incorporate its Planetree concepts into their healthcare delivery models.
Griffin Hospital is recognized for having industry-leading patient satisfaction ratings and has received numerous quality and clinical excellence awards. Griffin Hospital was listed as one of the “World’s Best Hospitals” by Newsweek magazine for eight consecutive years (2019-2026), awarded Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care™ by Planetree International, and was named one of “Becker’s 100 Great Community Hospitals” the highly reputable healthcare specialty publication Becker’s Hospital Review for continued focus on equity, patient satisfaction, innovation, and improving the health needs of the surrounding community.