Hospital recognized among nation’s top hospitals for outcomes in cardiac, pulmonary and specialty care.

Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital and Duke Health Affiliate in Heart, has been recognized for clinical excellence with multiple 2026 national distinctions from Healthgrades, the leading resource for consumers seeking high-quality hospitals and providers.

Among this year’s honors, Frye Regional received the Healthgrades Outpatient Prostate Care Award™, placing it among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for outpatient prostate care. The hospital also earned Five-Star Distinctions in seven additional specialties across cardiac, critical care, gastrointestinal, neurosciences and pulmonary services. A Five-Star rating from Healthgrades signifies performance significantly better than national average in a specific condition or procedure.

Frye Regional received the following recognitions:

• Five-Star Distinction in Defibrillator Procedures (2026)
• Five-Star Distinction in Pacemaker Procedures (2025-2026) – One of only two hospitals in North Carolina to achieve Five-Star ratings in both defibrillator and pacemaker procedures
• Five-Star Distinction in Treatment of Stroke (2026)
• Five-Star Distinction in Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (2025-2026)
• Five-Star Distinction in Treatment of Pneumonia (2024-2026) – One of only five hospitals in North Carolina to achieve Five-Star ratings in both COPD and pneumonia treatment
• Five-Star Distinction in Treatment of Gastrointestinal Bleed (2026)
• Five-Star Recipient in Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism (2025-2026) – One of only four hospitals in North Carolina to earn this recognition

These distinctions place Frye Regional among the top-performing hospitals nationwide for specialty and outpatient care and underscore the hospital’s commitment to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.

“Every recognition we receive is a testament to the dedication of our team and their shared commitment to our mission of making communities healthier,” said Philip Greene, MD, chief executive officer of Frye Regional Medical Center. “We are honored to be recognized by Healthgrades for consistently achieving high-quality outcomes and for earning the trust of the patients and families we serve.”

These specialty achievements are based entirely on patient outcomes, including risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates across more than 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide*. Healthgrades evaluates performance using objective measures to help patients identify hospitals that consistently deliver exceptional results in specific specialties such as cardiology, pulmonology and gastroenterology.

“Healthgrades’ specialty awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals in some of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare, helping consumers find high quality care tailored to their specific needs,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize Frye Regional for its consistently exceptional outcomes in key service areas, including cardiology, pulmonology and gastroenterology.”

Frye Regional is proud to be a Duke Health Affiliate in Heart, providing patients across Catawba and surrounding counties access to nationally recognized cardiovascular expertise. Through this collaboration, local providers receive advanced education and support from Duke Heart Center’s leading specialists to ensure care aligns with the latest evidence-based practices.

For more information about Frye Regional’s services, visit FryeMedCtr.com or call 828.315.5000.

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of SAF data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. For more information on how Healthgrades identifies the nation’s top hospitals for outpatient orthopedic surgery, see the 2026 Outpatient Awards and Ratings Methodology.