Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospitals, including Ascension St. Joseph, Ascension Elmbrook, and Ascension Franklin, received a 2026 5-Star Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), according to a May 27 announcement. The rating is the highest possible under the federal Hospital Quality Rating Program.
For April 2026 results, only 385 hospitals nationwide were awarded a 5-star overall rating, representing about 12 percent of rated hospitals. The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating assesses hospitals in categories such as mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care. A hospital earning five stars is recognized for consistently high-quality care and strong patient outcomes across multiple performance areas.
“We are grateful for this recognition of the exceptional level of care and quality we deliver to our patients,” said Dr. Kevin Casey, Chief Clinical Officer at Ascension Wisconsin. “A 5-star rating from CMS reflects the dedication of our care teams and associates who consistently deliver compassionate, high-quality care.”
The CMS star ratings aim to give patients and families a simple way to evaluate hospital quality through transparent information available at cms.gov.
The recent CMS recognition adds to other awards received by Ascension Wisconsin facilities: U.S. News & World Report named several campuses High Performing Hospitals for 2025-26; Newsweek listed Ascension St. Joseph Hospital and Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital among America’s Best Maternity Hospitals in 2026; Leapfrog gave “A” Safety Grades in Spring 2026 to both hospitals; Forbes also included them among its list of Top Hospitals with five stars in 2026.
