For many, January is a time to reflect and make health a top priority. So with that in mind, we decided to take a look back and see how our local and statewide hospitals ranked in 2025. We hope this information will be useful when navigating the increasingly complicated health-care landscape.
For several years, Kansas City magazine has partnered with Castle Connolly, a health-care research and information company, to provide an extensive peer-driven and unbiased list of the metro’s top doctors. This year, we also decided to work with Castle Connolly to take a look at the city and state’s top hospitals.
This list does not include pediatric care.
About Castle Connolly
With more than 30 years’ experience researching, reviewing and selecting top doctors, Castle Connolly has proven itself as a credible health-care research and information company. The firm’s mission is to help people find the best health care by connecting patients with best-in-class health-care providers.
How the rankings work: Top Hospitals is a prestigious recognition awarded to hospitals that set the standard for excellence within specific medical procedures. Hospitals are ranked in specific procedures, currently within the following service lines: orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology, urology, OB-GYN and oncology. It’s a data-driven approach providing an objective way to evaluate hospitals, leveraging comprehensive all-payor claims data to capture the full patient journey when seeking care. This ensures a complete understanding of patient experiences and outcomes, allowing us to highlight hospitals that truly make a difference in health care.
Castle Connolly doesn’t look at just one metric—it looks at the complete picture. We analyze clinical performance to understand how hospitals deliver care, track patient outcomes that go beyond basic statistics, incorporate insights from physicians who recognize real-world medical excellence and validate the volume of procedures that demonstrate true expertise.
Castle Connolly’s methodology is the only one in the industry that leverages all-payor, all-claims data; others rely solely on Medicare data. This is a major differentiator, as it allows the firm to follow a patient’s entire medical journey, not just a snapshot. Castle Connolly evaluates how hospitals manage treatment from start to finish—identifying complications early, reducing the need for follow-up procedures and ensuring patient safety throughout care.
The Missouri and Kansas hospitals that made the cut.
AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
Merriam, KS
AdventHealth
State: Gold Standard
The University of Kansas Health System, St. Francis Campus
Topeka, KS
Americas Division
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Lee’s Summit, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Top Hospital
Cox Medical Center Branson
Branson, MO
CoxHealth
State: Top Hospital
Cox Medical Center South
Springfield, MO
CoxHealth
State: Top Hospital
Freeman Health System
Joplin, MO
State: Gold Standard
Wesley Medical Center
Wichita, KS
HCA Continental Division
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Jefferson
Festus, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital South
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
State: Top Hospital
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
State: Top Hospital
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph – Medical Center
St. Joseph, MO
Mosaic Life Care
State: Gold Standard
Southwest Medical Center
Liberal, KS
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
Chanute, KS
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
NMC Health Medical Center
Newton, KS
State: Gold Standard
Liberty Hospital
Liberty, MO
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
SSM Health DePaul Hospital – St. Louis
Bridgeton, MO
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
North Kansas City Hospital
North Kansas City, MO
State: Gold Standard
Ozarks Healthcare
West Plains, MO
State: Top Hospital
Lake Regional Health System
Osage Beach, MO
State: Top Hospital
Fitzgibbon Hospital
Marshall, MO
State: Top Hospital
Phelps Health Hospital
Rolla, MO
State: Top Hospital
Olathe Medical Center
Olathe, KS
State: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Fenton
Fenton, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis
Lake St. Louis, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Stormont Vail Hospital
Topeka, KS
Stormont Vail Health
State: Gold Standard
University Hospital
Columbia, MO
MU Health Care
State: Top Hospital
Carotid Artery Surgery
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
Creve Coeur, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
St. Luke’s Hospital – Chesterfield
Chesterfield, MO
St. Luke’s Hospital Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Colon Surgery
The University of Kansas Health System, St. Francis Campus
Topeka, KS
Americas Division
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Lee’s Summit, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Lee’s Summit Medical Center
Lee’s Summit, MO
HCA Mid America Division
National: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Washington
Washington, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
Mercy
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Kansas Medical Center
Andover, KS
State: Gold Standard
North Kansas City Hospital
North Kansas City, MO
State: Gold Standard
Olathe Medical Center
Olathe, KS
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis
Richmond Heights, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Fenton
St. Louis County, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
St. Luke’s Hospital – Chesterfield, MO
Chesterfield, MO
St. Luke’s Hospital Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Cape Girardeau, MO
SoutheastHEALTH
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Heart Valve Replacement
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Kansas City, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Hernia Repair Surgery
Saint Luke’s South Hospital
Overland Park, KS
BJC HealthCare
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
St. Peters, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Lee’s Summit, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Kansas City, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Washington
Washington, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Lebanon
Lebanon, MO
Mercy
State: Top Hospital
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
State: Top Hospital
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
State: Top Hospital
Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph– Medical Center
St. Joseph, MO
Mosaic Life Care
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Clara Barton Hospital
Hoisington, KS
State: Gold Standard
North Kansas City Hospital
North Kansas City, MO
State: Top Hospital
Olathe Medical Center
Olathe, KS
Olathe Health
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Cape Girardeau, MO
SoutheastHEALTH
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis
Lake St Louis, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis
Richmond Heights, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Fenton
Fenton, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
St. Luke’s Hospital – Chesterfield
Chesterfield, MO
St. Luke’s Hospital Health System
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Hip Replacement Surgery
Ascension Via Christi St. Francis
Wichita, KS
Ascension Via Christi Health
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center
Wichita, KS
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Hysterectomy
Wesley Medical Center
Wichita, KS
HCA Continental Division – Wesley Healthcare
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Joplin
Joplin, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Hays Medical Center
Hays, KS
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Pratt Regional Medical Center
Pratt, KS
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Knee Replacement Surgery
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital South
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Marketing Area: Gold Standard
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center
Wichita, KS
National: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Fenton
Fenton, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Liver Cancer Surgery
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Lung Cancer Surgery
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Kansas City, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Mastectomy
Ascension Via Christi St. Francis
Wichita, KS
Ascension Via Christi Health
State: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Lee’s Summit, MO
BJC HealthCare
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute
Kansas City, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
St. Louis, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Saint Luke’s North Hospital – Barry Road
Kansas City, MO
BJC HealthCare
State: Top Hospital
Cox Medical Center South
Springfield, MO
CoxHealth
State: Top Hospital
Menorah Medical Center
Overland Park, KS
HCA Mid America Division
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
State: Gold Standard
Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center
Wichita, KS
State: Gold Standard
KU Medical Center
Kansas City, KS
State: Gold Standard
Phelps Health Hospital
Rolla, MO
National: Gold Standard
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Cape Girardeau, MO
SoutheastHEALTH
State: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles
St. Charles, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis
Richmond Heights, MO
SSM Health St. Louis
State: Top Hospital
Designated Market Area: Top Hospital
St. Luke’s Hospital – Chesterfield
Chesterfield, MO
St. Luke’s Hospital Health System
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
State: Gold Standard
Prostate Surgery
Citizens Memorial Hospital
Bolivar, MO
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Spine Surgery
Cox Medical Center South
Springfield, MO
CoxHealth
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Wesley Medical Center
Wichita, KS
HCA Continental Division – Wesley Healthcare
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Specialty Hospital – Southeast Kansas
Galena, KS
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, MO
Mercy
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Saint Francis Medical Center – Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Cape Girardeau, MO
SoutheastHEALTH
State: Gold Standard
St. Luke’s Hospital – Chesterfield
Chesterfield, MO
St. Luke’s Hospital Health System
State: Gold Standard
Designated Market Area: Gold Standard
University of Kansas Hospital
Kansas City, KS
The University of Kansas Health System
State: Gold Standard
University Hospital
Lee’s Summit, MO
University of Missouri Health Care
National: Top Hospital
State: Gold Standard
