LeConte Medical Center Named A 2026 “Best-in-State Hospital” by Newsweek
- 2 minute read.
- Last Updated: 10/24/2025
October 2025 – LeConte Medical Center was recently named one of “America’s Best-in-State Hospitals for 2026” by Newsweek. Out of 800 hospitals nationwide, it was one of 21 hospitals in Tennessee to recognized.
Newsweek compiled the list based on quality metrics, reputation, patient experience and patient-recorded outcome measures implementation. Quality metrics were obtained from organizations such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the AHA Annual Survey and hospital accreditation bodies, including The Joint Commission and Accreditation Commission for Health Care, among others.
LeConte also received the Patient Experience Award for outstanding performance in patient experience. Data was collected from survey results from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. Topics included hospital cleanliness, nurse and doctor communication, care transition, communication regarding medications, discharge information, quietness and staff responsiveness.
“At LeConte, our commitment to putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do,” said Aaron Burns, president and chief administrative officer of LeConte Medical Center. “Being named one of ‘America’s Best-In-State Hospitals for 2026’ by Newsweek is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our team’s dedication to delivering exceptional care every day. This recognition, alongside receiving Newsweek’s Patient Experience Award, affirms our mission to be the first and best choice for healthcare in our community. As part of Covenant Health, we are proud to serve Sevier County with excellence, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to improving the quality of life through better health.”
LeConte’s sister hospitals, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville and Roane Medical Center in Harriman, were also recognized.
Newsweek is a global media organization that reaches 100 million people monthly. To view the full list of “America’s Best-in-State Hospitals for 2026” or read more about the methodology, visit https://rankings.newsweek.com/americas-best-state-hospitals-2026.
About the Author
Covenant Health
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Covenant Health is a not-for-profit, community-owned, healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers.
