Two Colorado Springs-area hospitals have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the top six hospitals in Colorado.

For the third straight year, UCHealth Memorial Hospital was named the top hospital in Colorado Springs and No. 4 in the state.

Of the four top hospitals in Colorado, three are part of the UCHealth system. University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora took the No. 1 spot — a position it has held since 2012.

Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and Intermountain Health St. Joseph Hospital were tied for second. Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, in Colorado Springs, was tied for No 5 with Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree.

Memorial Hospital’s top ranking in Colorado Springs makes it the highest-ranked hospital in the southern part of the state.

“This recognition highlights the unwavering dedication of UCHealth’s staff and providers, who always put our patients first,” said Elizabeth B. Concordia , UCHealth president and CEO. “Their constant work to provide excellent care remains a top priority and serves as the foundation for everything we do.”

The annual rankings, which U.S. News has released for more than three decades, are designed to help patients and their physicians choose the most suitable hospital for their individual needs. The national publication compiles and analyzes patient care data for nearly 5,000 hospitals across the U.S., including more than 100 in Colorado, officials said.

Memorial Hospital was ranked “high performing” — in the top 10% of evaluated hospitals — in 10 procedures and conditions including surgery for colon and lung cancers and heart attack treatment. It is the only medical center in southern Colorado designated as both a Level I Trauma Center and a Comprehensive Stroke Center, hospital officials said.

“Our exceptional patient outcomes stem from our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standard of care daily,” said Lonnie Cramer, president and CEO of UCHealth’s southern Colorado region. “We are dedicated to serving our community and are honored that more people in southern Colorado are choosing our hospitals for their care.”

Penrose-St. Francis was designated “high performing” in eight adult procedures and conditions, including heart attack treatment, leukemia care and surgery for colon and prostate cancers.

“Choosing the right hospital to match your needs shouldn’t be a guessing game,” Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News & World Report, said in a statement. “The 2024-2025 edition of Best Hospitals provides patients and their families clear, data-driven insights on hospital performance and empowers Americans to choose the facility best suited to their specific health care needs.”

In June, UCHealth Memorial Hospital was also recognized as one of the best in the U.S. at providing quality health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. U.S. News & World Report recognized the medical center as one of 53 “Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access.”

The Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank based in Massachusetts, also recently recognized UCHealth as one of the country’s most socially responsible health care systems. UCHealth cared for 2.7 million patients during the last fiscal year and provided more than $1.2 billion in community benefits, including more than $580 million in care for patients who could not afford to pay, officials said.