Gifford Receives National Recognition for Quality and Patient Experience

Randolph, VT – Gifford has been recognized nationally for excellence in both patient care and quality improvement, earning top ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and multiple Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

On Medicare.gov’s Care Compare, Gifford Medical Center earned a 4-star overall quality rating and a 5-star patient experience rating – placing Gifford among the nation’s top rural hospitals for delivering high-quality, compassionate care.

Adding to this achievement, Gifford received three 2025 CHQR badges from HRSA, which recognize health centers that demonstrate notable performance on clinical quality, patient outcomes, and innovation:

• National Quality Leader 2025 – Awarded to health centers that meet or exceed national benchmarks in key areas of clinical quality, such as behavioral health, cancer screening, diabetes care, or heart health.
• Health Center Quality Leader 2025 – Presented to health centers ranked among the top 30% nationwide in overall clinical quality performance.
• Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality 2025 – Acknowledging Gifford’s effective use of health IT to improve patient care, including telehealth, patient engagement, and clinical data sharing.

“This recognition from CMS and HRSA validates the work our team does every day to deliver accessible, high-quality care close to home,” said Michael Costa, President and CEO of Gifford. “Both the excellent star rating and quality awards reflect the skill and dedication of our team and our deep commitment to the health of our communities.”

“We are grateful to our patients and families whose trust and feedback made this possible,” added Sara Simeone, VP, Nursing, Quality & Patient Safety. “Whether it’s delivering a baby, managing chronic illness, or providing compassionate end-of-life services, our focus is always on the person in front of us.”

To learn more about Gifford Health Care’s quality achievements and services, visit www.giffordhealthcare.org or call (802) 728-2380.

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Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, and Rochester; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; daycare; an adult day program; and a 30-bed nursing home. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. As a community health center and medical home, Gifford’s mission is to improve and manage the health of the people we serve by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care, and by promoting the health and well-being of everyone in our service area.