St. Peter, MN – Oct. 27, 2026 – River’s Edge Hospital announced today that it has earned top honors for clinical quality from Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital.
Among River’s Edge Hospital’s new recognitions are multiple Specialty Excellence Distinctions, which place the hospital among the top 15% nationwide for Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement. River’s Edge Hospital also achieved 3 Five-Star Ratings for outstanding performance in knee replacement, hip replacement and hip fracture treatment.
In addition to these national honors, River’s Edge Hospital is ranked #1 in Minnesota for Joint Replacement for 3 years in a row (2025-2027) and #1 in Minnesota for Orthopedic Surgery (2027, 2025). These State Rankings put River’s Edge Hospital and their orthopedic partner, the Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic in Mankato in the upper echelon of hospitals for orthopedic surgery and joint replacement, further solidifying the organization’s regional leadership.
"It is an honor and a privilege to receive such high accolades and recognition from Health Grades, not only in the state of Minnesota, but across the country. It speaks to the strength, skill and commitment to high-quality care by both River's Edge Hospital and Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic. With this strong partnership, we are able to live out our mission – to provide safe, quality and individualized care to the communitites that we serve," said Paula Meskan, River's Edge Hospital's Chief Executive Officer.
“Being ranked #1 in Minnesota for Orthopedic Surgery and recognized among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for both Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement for three consecutive years is an achievement we’re incredibly proud of. These honors reflect the expertise and dedication of our teams at Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital, who work together to deliver outstanding orthopedic care to our region," said Dr. Kyle Swanson, surgeon and Chief of Staff at River's Edge Hospital.
River’s Edge Hospital’s achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. Unlike rankings based on surveys or reputation, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance strictly on objective clinical outcomes–risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates–across more than 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide.
The impact of choosing a high-performing hospital is significant. Healthgrades’ 2027 analysis revealed that if all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated facilities during the 2023-2025 study period, 227,229 lives could have been saved and 158,138 complications could have been avoided.*
“Achieving #1 in Minnesota for joint replacement for three consecutive years is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects the high-quality orthopedic care we’re proud to provide," said Dr. Jesse Botker, surgeon and Medical Director of Surgical Services at River's Edge Hospital. "Our teams at Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital are committed to delivering exceptional outcomes, and these recognitions reinforce the level of care our patients can expect.”
Patients and community members can visit Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the top-performing hospitals for specialty care.
To learn more about OrthoEdge, the joint replacement program offered through the partnership between Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital, visit www.ofc-clinic.com/orthoedge.
*Statistical averages based on Healthgrades’ analysis of MedPAR data for years 2023 through 2025 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. To learn more about how Healthgrades determines the top hospitals for specialty care, view the complete 2027 Specialty Excellence Awards and Ratings Methodology.
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ABOUT ORTHOPAEDIC & FRACTURE CLINIC
Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic (OFC) has been Southern Minnesota’s trusted leader in orthopedic care since 1957. With a team of board-certified surgeons and more than 100 dedicated providers and staff, OFC offers advanced, personalized treatment for bones, joints, and muscles. Services include same-day care, on-site imaging (X-ray, DXA, MRI), back care, bone health, sports medicine, and physical and occupational therapy. Learn more at ofc-clinic.com.
ABOUT RIVER’S EDGE HOSPITAL
River’s Edge Hospital & Clinic is a 25-Bed Critical Access Hospital located in St. Peter, Minnesota. River’s Edge provides a wide range of healthcare services, combining state-of-the-art technology with compassionate care, collaboration, integrity and stewardship. It is the mission of River’s Edge Hospital to provide safe, quality, and individualized care to the communities we serve. Find more information at www.REHC.org.
About Healthgrades
Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.
For over 20 years, our health system, group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have helped our partners reach and engage consumers on their way to the doctor.
Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. RVO Health has the largest consumer health and wellness audience online across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central and Bezzy, which touch every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 100 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.