LifeBridge Health and Three of its Hospitals Earn National “A” Grades for Social Responsibility Markers from the Lown Institute

LifeBridge Health and three of its hospitals have been recognized by the Lown Institute for excellence in social responsibility, earning top marks in the 2026-27 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility.

LifeBridge Health received an "A" grade for Community Benefit, while Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital and Carroll Hospital were recognized with multiple "A" grades for their commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve.

The Lown Hospitals Index is the only national ranking that examines how equitably care is delivered, how well hospitals invest in their communities and whether patients receive high-value care that avoids unnecessary procedures, in addition to clinical measures. More than 50 metrics contribute to each hospital's overall score. The independent analysis evaluates more than 3,600 hospitals and more than 300 health systems nationwide. Hospitals do not apply or pay to be included in the rankings.

Sinai Hospital received:

• "A" grade for Health Equity
• "A" grade for Community Benefit
• "A" grade for Inclusivity
• "A" grade for Racial Inclusivity (Top 5 in Maryland)

This marks the second consecutive year Sinai Hospital has earned an "A" grade for Health Equity, Community Benefit and Inclusivity, while again being recognized among Maryland's top hospitals for racial inclusivity.

Northwest Hospital received:

• "A" grade for Health Equity
• "A" grade for Community Benefit
• "A" grade for Inclusivity

Carroll Hospital received:

• "A" grade for Community Benefit

"At LifeBridge Health, we pride ourselves in being a community health system. These recognitions validate that we are truly living our mission and reflect our unwavering commitment to improve the health of the communities we serve," says Jennifer Nickoles, president and chief executive officer of LifeBridge Health. "Whether it's expanding access to care, investing in community programs or addressing health disparities, our teams are dedicated to making a meaningful difference to our patients and communities. We are proud to see that work recognized through these independent national rankings."

“The best hospitals aren’t just clinically excellent, they're deeply committed to the communities they serve and work hard to ensure all patients get the care they need,” says Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “High performance on the Lown Index shows that hospitals are doing more of what matters to patients and communities.”

The Lown Hospitals Index evaluates hospitals using more than 50 metrics that examine health equity, community investment, value of care and clinical outcomes. The rankings measure how equitably care is delivered, how well hospitals invest in their communities and whether patients receive high-value care that avoids unnecessary procedures.

The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring health system. Learn more at LownHospitalsIndex.org.

About LifeBridge Health:  

LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland. LifeBridge Health includes Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale, Grace Medical Center and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org