Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco 1 of only 3 hospitals in RGV recognized among Nation’s 2026 100 Top Hospitals® by Modern Healthcare magazine
WESLACO, Texas, April 2026 – Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, has been named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals®, according to an independent quality analysis conducted by Premier, Inc. and published by Modern Healthcare magazine.
Knapp Medical is one of only three hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley to be recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States. State-wide, 17 hospitals across Texas received the honor for 2026.
For more than 30 years, Premier, Inc.’s 100 Top Hospitals® program has used objective, quantitative analysis of publicly-available data to identify the top-performing hospitals in the United States.
The program is designed to help healthcare leaders pursue higher performance and “deliver added value to patients and communities by providing transparent, non-biased benchmarks and actionable insights,” according to Premier, Inc., a company based in Charlotte, North Carolina which works to promote improvements in healthcare across the country.
The nation’s “100 Top Hospitals®” is the latest accolade for Knapp Medical Center, which serves as the only acute care hospital in the Mid-Valley area, with 227 beds.
Knapp Medical was also one of only four hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley to recently be recognized for 5-star care for top patient outcomes by another national magazine, Forbes.
Rene J. Lopez, MD, FACHE, RRT, CEO for Knapp Medical Center, said the hospital’s multiple recognitions is a testament to the work of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing “the highest-quality healthcare to residents of the Mid-Valley – every patient, every time.”
“These outstanding awards are a demonstration of the level of commitment our physicians and employees have in ensuring that our patients receive safe, high-quality, compassionate, and personalized care,” Mr. Lopez added.
“At Knapp Medical Center, we are all committed to patient safety and to creating an exceptional patient experience,” Mr. Lopez added. “And, that includes ensuring we effectively communicate with our patients, ensuring we are responsive to their needs, and ensuring we provide a safe, quiet and clean environment during their stay with us.”
Pablo Loredo III, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Knapp Medical Center, said the recognition as one of the top hospitals in the nation helps demonstrate the excellent care that is being provided to patients at Knapp — and is an important factor for residents to recognize when they weigh their healthcare options.
“This recognition is a by-product of the standards we’ve set for ourselves: reduce variation, execute consistently, and hold the line on patient safety and quality,” Mr. Loredo added. “When those expectations are met every day, outcomes improve, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing.”
Based on comparisons between the study’s top performers and peer hospitals, an analysis by Premier, Inc. found that this year’s 100 Top Hospitals® delivered better outcomes while operating more efficiently. If all hospitals performed at the level of this year’s top performers, the impact for Medicare hospital inpatients could include:
- More than 279,000 additional lives saved
- More than 477,000 additional patients being free of complications
- 21,700 fewer patients having to be re-admitted to the hospital within 30 days
- More than $14.3 billion in cost savings for inpatients in the nation’s hospitals
“Premier’s 100 Top Hospitals program recognizes healthcare organizations that consistently deliver high-quality care while improving operational and financial performance,” said David Zito, President of Performance Services at Premier, Inc. “By highlighting top performers and providing transparent, data-driven insights, this program helps hospitals nationwide identify opportunities to enhance care delivery, strengthen financial sustainability and improve outcomes for the communities they serve.”
Knapp Medical Center has also been highly ranked in several other awards programs, including receiving 5-star awards for treatment of hip fracture, treatment of diabetic emergencies, and treatment of heart attack for 2026 from Healthgrades, a national company which specializes in research and information about healthcare.
In addition, Knapp was awarded an “A” grade for patient safety for the fall of 2025 from the Leapfrog Group, also a national healthcare ratings organization.
For more information on the 100 Top Hospitals® program, please visit www.modernhealthcare.com/awards/mh-premier-100-top-hospitals-2026/.
For more information on award-winning patient care in the Rio Grande Valley, please visit www.KnappMed.org.
ABOUT KNAPP MEDICAL CENTER
Knapp Medical Center is a full-service acute care hospital dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to the Rio Grande Valley. With advanced services and a compassionate medical team, Knapp is committed to your health and comfort. For more information, please call 956.968.8567 or visit www.knappmed.org.