Cabarrus County's largest employer earned a top-10 spot among North Carolina hospitals in the 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings released Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Atrium Health Cabarrus, the 457-bed not-for-profit hospital on Church Street North in Concord, tied for sixth statewide and ranked second in the Charlotte metro area, according to the Independent Tribune. Only Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte ranked higher in the region. The recognition marks at least the second year in a row the Concord hospital has appeared among the state's best.
The hospital earned "high performing" ratings in 15 adult procedures and conditions, including heart attack treatment, heart bypass surgery, stroke care, hip and knee replacement, and colon cancer surgery, according to its U.S. News profile. That's nearly double the eight high-performing ratings required to qualify as a Best Regional Hospital.
U.S. News evaluated more than 4,400 hospitals nationwide using data on risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and patient experience, according to a U.S. News news release. Just over 500 hospitals across 49 states earned the designation, including 20 in North Carolina.
Steve Smoot, president of the North Carolina and Georgia Division of Advocate Health, Atrium's parent organization, said in a news release that the recognition reflects staff commitment. "We are incredibly proud to see our hospitals and specialty programs recognized among the best in the nation," Smoot said.
The hospital employs more than 4,200 people and serves a five-county region through more than 30 facilities, including the Jeff Gordon Children's Center and the Batte Cancer Center, according to Atrium Health. A Cabarrus County budget document lists it as the county's largest employer.
Patient satisfaction data backs the ranking. Eighty-nine percent of patients said they would recommend Atrium Health Cabarrus to others, compared with a national average of 87%.
The recognition arrives as Atrium Health expands its footprint locally. In October 2025, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services granted a conditional Certificate of Need for a $233.4 million full-service satellite hospital in Harrisburg, according to a town press release. That project would add 48 inpatient beds in its first phase and expand to 96 beds in a second phase.
Harrisburg Town Manager Rob Donham said in the October 2025 announcement that access to high-quality healthcare "is a cornerstone of economic growth" and fosters "a more productive workforce."
