Oxford hospital named Mississippi’s most recommended by patients

Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford was identified Jan. 12, 2026 as the Mississippi hospital patients are most likely to recommend, a recognition tied to patient experience scores collected through a national survey.

The ranking reflects results from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, or HCAHPS, survey data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospitals that meet survey-volume thresholds are rated on patients’ answers to the question asking whether they would recommend the hospital to friends and family. Being singled out on that measure is an indicator of strong patient experience scores at the Oxford facility.

For Lafayette County residents, the designation is more than a point of local pride. Patient willingness to recommend a hospital is a visible signal of trust in clinicians, communication and care processes. When neighbors report positive experiences, others in the community are more likely to seek timely care, follow up on treatment plans and return for preventive services—behaviors that can affect health outcomes across age groups and neighborhoods.

Public health officials and local policymakers should note the recognition while also considering equity and access. High patient experience scores do not automatically reflect uniform experiences across all populations. Ensuring that quality and communication reach people who face barriers to care—Low-income households, people without reliable transportation and those with limited health literacy—remains important for the county’s broader health. Hospital performance on patient experience measures can be a useful lens for community health planning, provider recruitment and hospital-community partnerships that address social determinants of health.

For the hospital, the recognition can bolster reputation and community relationships; for residents, it offers a data point to consider when choosing care locally. It also underscores the importance of continued investment in staff training, interpreter services, patient navigation and transparent communication so that high experience scores translate into equitable care for all Lafayette County residents.

The takeaway? Treat this recognition as a reason to ask questions: where did my care go well, and where could it improve? If you or a family member plan care, ask about communication, follow-up and supports that matter to you—those practical checks help keep quality high for our whole community.