St. David’s Earns Global Ranking as Travis County Reviews Health Spending
Austin, TX – March 7, 2026 – St. David’s Medical Center earns global ranking as Travis County weighs budget cuts and local hospitals receive patient care honors.
St. David’s Medical Center Named Among World’s Best
St. David’s Medical Center has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2026 list of the World’s Best Hospitals, marking the seventh year the Austin facility has received the distinction. The ranking highlights leading hospitals across 32 countries and reflects performance measures including quality of care, patient experience and clinical outcomes.
Hospital leaders said the recognition underscores the breadth of specialty services offered in Austin, including complex spine, surgical oncology, bariatric and general surgery, as well as advanced cardiac care through the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute.
Heart Hospital and Surgical Hospital Earn Patient Experience Awards
Heart Hospital of Austin and St. David’s Surgical Hospital were also recently named 2025 Human Experience Award winners by Press Ganey, a national health care performance organization. The awards recognize hospitals that rank at the top nationally for patient experience.
Heart Hospital of Austin received honors for emergency services and overall patient satisfaction scores, while St. David’s Surgical Hospital was recognized for inpatient rehabilitation services. The designations place both facilities among the top tier of hospitals nationwide based on multi-year performance data.
Travis County Plans 5% Budget Reduction
At the county level, Travis County Commissioners have asked department heads to propose 5% spending reductions as officials prepare for a tight budget year. County services include health care access, housing support and other safety-net programs for low-income residents.
County budget officials said proposals are due April 1 and indicated there are no current plans for layoffs or a hiring freeze. Leaders described the move as a proactive step to manage rising health care and operational costs while maintaining core public services.
Health-related departments will submit their cost-saving ideas as part of the broader budget process in the coming weeks.
What It Means for Residents
The hospital recognitions highlight continued investment in specialty and patient-centered care in Austin. At the same time, county budget discussions may shape how certain public health and safety-net services are funded in the next fiscal year.
Residents are encouraged to follow updates from local hospitals and Travis County as budget planning continues.
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