Glacial Ridge Health System has earned national recognition for patient experience for several years, based on feedback from Glacial Ridge patients. Two separate five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), plus a 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades, all speak to what patients say about their care, comfort, and communication with staff during a visit.
Two Five-Star Ratings From CMS
Glacial Ridge has maintained a five-star patient experience rating from CMS, according to its most recent release of data. The rating covers topics like communication with doctors and nurses, staff responsiveness, and how clean and quiet the hospital felt during a patient’s stay. Of the eight Minnesota hospitals with this rating, all but one, Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, are small critical access hospitals like Glacial Ridge, serving rural communities across the state.
“In a hospital this size, our nurses often know patients by name, sometimes for years,” said Heather Hanson, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Glacial Ridge. “Being a critical access hospital doesn’t mean less capability; it means our nurses can spend real time with each patient. I think that personal connection, from every department, is part of what this recognition reflects.”
Glacial Ridge also holds a separate five-star CMS rating for patient recommendation, based on how likely patients said they would be to recommend the hospital to family and friends.
A Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award
In addition, Glacial Ridge received a 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades. This award recognizes the top 15% of hospitals nationwide that excel at delivering top-quality care while ensuring a positive patient experience. Healthgrades bases the award on nine measures gathered directly from patient surveys, including how well doctors and nurses communicate, cleanliness and noise levels throughout the hospital, and how clearly patients receive medication and discharge instructions.
What It Means for Patients in Glenwood
Together, these recognitions point to the same thing patients notice during a visit: attentive staff, a clean and quiet place to recover, and clear guidance for care and recovery.
“This kind of feedback means a lot because it comes directly from our patients,” said Kirk Stensrud, CEO of Glacial Ridge Health System. “Every department here is working toward the same goal: heartfelt care for the people we serve.”
View more: Awards & Designations/Accreditation – Most Recent 5 Years