WESLACO, Texas – Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, is the only hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to receive a 5-star rating in the latest hospital ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
In fact, Knapp is the only hospital in all of South Texas, south of San Antonio, to receive the 5-star rating.
Rene J. Lopez, MD, CEO for Knapp Medical Center, said the 5-star rating is the highest possible rating (on a scale of one to five) and reflects exceptional quality care being provided to South Texas patients by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals at the hospital.
He said the 5-star rating is a testament to the work of employees and physicians -- who are dedicated to providing “the highest-quality healthcare to residents of the Rio Grande Valley, every patient, every time.”
Lopez added: “The 5-star rating Knapp Medical Center has received from CMS indicates the level of commitment our employees have in ensuring our patients receive safe, high-quality, compassionate, and personalized care.”
Pablo Loredo, chief nursing officer for Knapp Medical Center, said the overall star rating for the CMS ratings is determined by how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality -- such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care.
He said Knapp’s outstanding rating helps demonstrate the excellent care that is being provided to patients at at the hospital. He said it should be an important factor for residents to recognize when they weigh their healthcare options.
“This recognition is a by-product of the standards we’ve set for ourselves: reduce variation, execute consistently, and hold the line on patient safety and quality,” Loredo said. “When those expectations are met every day, outcomes improve, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.”
Nationwide, out of more than 4,000 hospitals, only 384 hospitals achieved the highest rating in the federal government’s “Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings”. This places Knapp Medical Center among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation.
Several other Prime Healthcare hospitals also did very well in the star ratings, including Knapp’s sister hospitals, Harlingen Medical Center and Mission Regional Medical Center, who achieved 4-star ratings.
Knapp Medical Center was recently named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals®, according to an independent quality analysis conducted by Premier, Inc. and published by Modern Healthcare magazine.
Knapp was also given a 5-star ranking for top patient outcomes by Forbes.
It also received an “A” grade for patient safety, for the second time in a row, from the Leapfrog Group, a national healthcare organization
And it received 5-star awards for treatment of hip fracture (for 14 years in a row, 2013-2026); treatment of diabetic emergencies (for four years in a row, 2023-2026); and treatment of heart attack (for 3 years in a row, 2024-2026); from Healthgrades, a national company which specializes in research and information about healthcare.
About Knapp Medical Center
Knapp Medical Center is a full-service acute care hospital dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to the Rio Grande Valley. With advanced services and a compassionate medical team, Knapp is committed to your health and comfort. For more information, call 956.968.8567 or visit www.knappmed.org.
