Fond Du Lac Times

Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has been named to the 2025 Becker’s Hospital Review list of “Great community hospitals,” marking the third consecutive year it has received this recognition. The hospital is one of only two facilities in Wisconsin to be included among the 100 hospitals listed.

Becker’s describes recognized community hospitals as being “dedicated to clinical excellence, academic advancement, and personalized, whole-person care delivery. Their mission is to elevate health outcomes within the communities they serve.”

“It’s an honor to be included in Becker’s list of great community hospitals,” said Richard Keddington, CEO of Watertown Regional Medical Center. “This recognition is really about the incredible work our team does each day to care for the friends, neighbors, and families we serve in Dodge and Jefferson Counties. Accolades such as this from Becker’s validates the work they do every day.”

Selection for Becker’s annual list was based on nominations and insights from organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS, The Leapfrog Group, the National Rural Health Association, and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Becker’s highlighted the important role of these institutions: “Community hospitals play a vital role in the fabric of the U.S. healthcare system, delivering accessible, affordable care to patients beyond major metropolitan areas. Whether serving rural regions or suburban neighborhoods, these hospitals are essential to keeping communities healthy and connected to quality care.”

WRMC has recently expanded its services in southern Wisconsin. In 2024, it added new orthopedic services; in 2023, it opened a renovated cardiac catheterization lab with advanced technology; and in 2022 introduced both VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution for knee replacement surgeries and eICU technology that enables remote critical care consultations.

The hospital also earned an “A” grade for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group in May—its eighth top mark out of eleven recent ratings—and received ScionHealth’s Platinum Award under its National Quality Strategy. Other recognitions include Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence Award and Outstanding Patient Experience Award as well as being listed among Chartis’ Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals.

“It’s our privilege to care for the patients who choose Watertown Regional,” said Keddington. “The support we receive from the community drives our success, and with that privilege comes the responsibility to always provide safe, high-quality care for the people of Watertown and the surrounding communities.”

WRMC serves residents across Dodge and Jefferson counties with a range of services including emergency care, primary care, women’s health, orthopedics and spine services, heart and vascular care, neurology, pulmonology, ophthalmology among others. It operates as a joint venture between Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation and ScionHealth.