Medicare has begun rating hospitals on hip and knee replacement surgeries and the quality of care provided. While most hospitals in the nation are rated at average, Medicare identified 95 worse than average hospitals where patients are more likely to have problems after these procedures, as well as 97 better than average hospitals where patients tend to have easier and better recoveries. Medicare evaluated cases between July 2009 and June 2012.

Heartland Regional Medical Center (HRMC) was highlighted as one of only two hospitals in the Kansas City/St. Joseph area to achieve better status for fewer complications after knee or hip replacement, with the second being Olathe Medical Center.

However, HRMC was the only hospital in the region to also achieve the higher quality rating for readmissions. Only 24 other hospitals in the country were identified as better than average for complications AND readmissions.