Aurora Medical Center Bay Area ranks among top Wisconsin hospitals

MARINETTE – According to the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), hospitals across the state have topped the national charts based on reviews from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The CMS is a federal agency that provides health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace to over 160 million people.

Each year, CMS publishes its Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings that evaluates hospitals on five categories: Mortality; safety of care; timely and effective care; patient experience; and readmission. The five areas of quality are summarized into a star rating of one through five for each hospital.

“According to CMS, 65% of Wisconsin hospitals received four- or five-star ratings, compared to the national average of 42%. This is the fourth-highest overall percentage of four and five-star-rated hospitals in any state and the highest percentage for states with 50 or more hospitals,” the WHA shared in a press release.

“Wisconsin’s performance continues a multiyear trend of hospitals across the state earning among the highest quality rankings in the country.”

Locally, Aurora Medical Center Bay Area received a four-star rating, placing it among the top-rated hospitals in the state and the country.

Area Vice President for Quality, Safety & Experience at Aurora Health Care Melissa Spiering shared that, “A CMS hospital four-star rating recognizes that Aurora Medical Center Bay Area demonstrates strong performance across key measures such as safety, quality outcomes, patient experience and effective care.”

Opened in 2018, the hospital is staffed by 185 nurses and 383 physicians across the 31 specialties. This includes orthopedics, women’s health, a cancer center, emergency care, cardiac health, outpatient surgery and rehabilitation.

Community care comes in more than just medical treatments. Aurora Medical Center Bay Area also provides financial counseling, contributes funding to school physical education programs and partners with Feeding America and the YMCA during food drives.

Spiering added, “CMS Hospital Star Ratings reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered care to every person who entrusts us with their health. They also help us identify opportunities for continuous improvement, ensuring we remain focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the communities we serve.”

In addition to the hospital rating, Aurora Medical Center Bay Area was recently recognized by the CMS for earning a five-star rating for nurse communication.

“CMS Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data shows 44 Wisconsin hospitals earned five-star ratings for nurse communication — the most of any state of any size. Pennsylvania ranked second with 42 hospitals, followed by Texas with 33 and Ohio with 32,” the WHA released.

“As part of Advocate Health, Aurora Health Care is committed to redefining care for all of the patients and Marinette County communities we serve, with a focus on clinical preeminence, safety and improving health outcomes,” Spiering said.

The WHA also highlighted other impactful awards, like Aurora Medical Center-Bay Area’s 2026 Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades.

“These results underscore Wisconsin hospitals’ continued commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care and the strong hospital teams delivering that care every day,” a release from WHA stated.

“We are proud of the care delivered at Aurora Medical Center Bay Area and remain committed to continually raising the bar for quality, safety and patient experience on behalf of the communities that depend on us every day,” Spiering concluded.

Aurora Medical Center Bay Area is located at 3003 University Dr., Marinette.

For more information about the treatments and services they provide, visit www.aurorahealthcare.org/locations/hospital/aurora-medical-center-bay-area or call (715) 735-4200.