In a significant achievement for local healthcare, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital has been recognized as one of the premier medical facilities in the state, earning a prestigious five-star rating from Forbes magazine. This accolade places the Vero Beach hospital in an elite tier, distinguishing it as one of only 11 hospitals in Florida to receive the top honor out of more than 350 facilities evaluated statewide.
This recognition is particularly notable for residents of Indian River County and the wider Treasure Coast. According to the data released by Forbes, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is the only facility in the entire Treasure Coast region to secure either a four- or five-star rating. Furthermore, it stands alone within the Cleveland Clinic Florida system, being the only one of the system’s five hospitals to achieve this high level of recognition in the 2026 rankings.
Rigorous Methodology Behind the Stars
The Forbes Top Hospitals list is a revamped and highly analytical assessment of healthcare quality. To ensure objectivity, the publication utilized a team of healthcare measurement experts, including physicians, scientists, and patient advocates. They analyzed publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), with verification provided by the data analytics firm Inovalon.
Roughly 2,500 hospitals nationwide met the criteria to be ranked, but only 253 rose to the top to earn five stars. The evaluation heavily prioritized clinical patient outcomes. Forbes noted that metrics such as mortality rates, survival rates, infection prevention, and readmission numbers were given the most weight.
Additionally, the rankings were statistically adjusted for “social drivers of health” (SDOH), such as socioeconomics and access to medical services. This adjustment ensures that hospitals are compared fairly based on quality, regardless of the specific challenges faced by their surrounding communities.
A Destination for Advanced Care
Hospital leadership views this national recognition as a validation of the strides made since the Cleveland Clinic Foundation assumed operations of the county’s hospital in 2019.
Dr. Richard Rothman, the hospital’s vice president and chief medical officer, emphasized the facility’s growing reputation:
“Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is rapidly becoming a destination site for advanced healthcare. Patients trust us for accurate diagnoses of complex conditions, intricate surgeries, and leading-edge heart and stroke care, among many other specialized services ranging from complex neurology to some of the most advanced cancer treatment options in the region.”
Impact on the Community
While the hospital is already the largest employer in Indian River County—boasting over 2,500 employees—this new rating is expected to bolster efforts to attract top-tier medical talent to Vero Beach. Cleveland Clinic spokesperson Raquel Gonzalez Rivas noted that while the program is relatively new, the accolade serves as a powerful tool for recruitment, helping to staff the hospital with the highest caliber of physicians, nurses, and technicians.
For Vero Beach residents, the five-star rating offers peace of mind, confirming that world-class medical care is accessible right here in Indian River County. The distinction highlights the success of the partnership between the Indian River County Hospital District and Cleveland Clinic, ensuring that the facility remains a pillar of health and economic stability for the region.
