LeConte Medical Center Nationally Recognized as a 2026 “Top Hospital”

January 2026 – LeConte Medical Center was recently named a 2026 “Top Hospital” by Forbes. It’s the second national “best hospital” recognition the hospital has received this year; Newsweek also included it on its 2026 “America’s Best-in-State Hospitals” list.

Forbes created its inaugural “Top Hospital” list by analyzing 56 quality measures that were then divided into four categories: outcomes, best practices, value and patient experience. The outcome category consisted of 25 clinical measures that were adjusted to account for social drivers of health, such as socioeconomics and access to medical services, for each hospital’s community and then compared to the national average. Those measures accounted for more than half the weight of the overall score. Data was collected from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Data Catalog.

“Earning a place on the 2026 Forbes ‘Top Hospitals’ list is an extraordinary milestone for LeConte Medical Center. This recognition reflects the dedication, compassion and relentless pursuit of excellence demonstrated by every member of our team,” said Aaron Burns, president and chief administrative officer of LeConte Medical Center. “We remain committed to delivering high‑quality, patient‑centered care for the people of Sevier County and East Tennessee, and this honor reinforces that our efforts are making a meaningful impact. I am incredibly proud of our staff and grateful for the trust our community places in us every day.”

LeConte’s service offerings cover a wide spectrum of healthcare specialties, including emergency care, orthopedics, imaging and diagnostics, rehabilitation therapies, cancer treatment, women’s care and more. LeConte’s sister hospitals, Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville, Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City and Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, were also recognized on the list.

Forbes is a global media organization that reaches 150 million people monthly. View the full list of “Top Hospitals” and read more about the methodology here.