BANGOR — Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center has been recognized on Forbes’ first-ever Top Hospitals by State 2026 list, affirming its position as one of Maine’s leading hospitals for high-quality, patient-centered care.
This new state-level recognition builds on the hospital’s earlier achievement on Forbes’ national Top Hospitals 2026 list, where it earned a prestigious five-star overall rating — the highest possible. The national evaluation assessed approximately 5,400 general acute care hospitals nationwide, with only 259 earning five stars overall.
Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 is a nationwide comparison that rates hospitals on a 1-to-5-star scale using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data. Ratings emphasize clinical outcomes (weighted at 55% and adjusted for social drivers of health in local communities), along with best practices, value and patient experience.
The Top Hospitals by State 2026 list, Eastern Maine Medical Center’s latest honor, is a complementary, state focused selection drawn directly from the national ratings. All hospitals that received a national five-star overall rating — including Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center — were automatically included. Hospitals with national 1- or 2-star ratings were excluded. The result is a list of 781 hospitals across the country that highlights strong local and regional options for patients who need high-quality care close to home. Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine General Medical Center in Augusta and Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent also made the Top Hospitals by State for Maine, although Eastern Maine Medical Center is the only one to have received a five-star overall rating.
“This recognition on Forbes’ Top Hospitals by State list is a meaningful affirmation of the high-quality care our teams deliver every day for the people of Maine,” Ava Collins, MHA, FACHE, president, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, said. “Building on our national five-star distinction, it reinforces our commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, and providing accessible, high-value services right here, close to home, when patients and families need us most. I am exceptionally proud of our entire workforce for this continued honor.”
Forbes developed both rankings to help patients navigate a complex healthcare system with objective, data-driven information. The methodology prioritizes real patient results and accounts for community health factors to enable fairer comparisons.
For details on the Forbes Top Hospitals by State 2026 list and methodology, visit forbes.com/lists/top-hospitals-by-state.
Learn more about Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center at northernlighthealth.org/EMMC.