CarolinaEast Medical Center Named Among Newsweek’s World's Best Hospitals

(New Bern, NC) – For the eighth consecutive year, CarolinaEast Medical Center is named one of the top best hospitals in the United States by Newsweek magazine in their annual "World’s Best Hospitals" rankings. The 2026 list lands CarolinaEast at 112 out of 6,100 hospitals in the United States. Newsweek is a premier news magazine and website that has been bringing high quality journalism to readers around the globe for more than 80 years. This is the eighth year of their World’s Best Hospitals rankings, in all of which CarolinaEast has ranked highly. As a result, CarolinaEast has been recognized as an “All Time Champion.”

Rankings are based on an extensive evaluation process, including an online survey of thousands of medical experts (doctors, hospital managers and health care professionals), patient experience data, hospital quality metrics and a PROMs Implementation Survey. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are defined as standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients to measure their perception of their functional well-being and quality of life.

“Choosing a hospital is rarely a simple decision. It is often made in moments of uncertainty, when unusual symptoms or a difficult diagnosis is already weighing heavy on the patient,” stated Alexis Kayser, Healthcare Editor of Newsweek. “That’s why dependable guidance on where to find high-quality medical care is so important. Whether an individual is seeking care for themselves or for a loved one, clear information can help them pursue the best possible health outcomes.”

In addition to ranking in the top 1.8% of United States hospitals, CarolinaEast is ranked #5 in the state of
North Carolina, and the only independent hospital in the top 10. Additionally, Newsweek recognized CarolinaEast for performing above the average in Infection Prevention measures. At the end of 2025, the New Bern hospital was also recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best-In-State Hospitals 2026 for the third consecutive year.

“CarolinaEast is honored to be recognized by many respected organizations, but none carries the significance of being named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals,” said Michael Smith, President and CEO of CarolinaEast Health System. “This achievement speaks to the exceptional skill and commitment of our more than 3,200 employees who drive our mission forward every day. I am proud to see their work honored alongside the world’s leading health systems.”

The full list of hospital rankings is available on the Newsweek website: https://rankings.newsweek.com/worlds-best-hospitals-2026/united-states .