Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury has earned a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an improvement from its previous four-star designation.
The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System evaluates hospitals and care facilities on a scale of one to five stars, with five stars representing “much above average quality.”
Ratings are based on a range of factors, including health inspections, staffing and quality measures, and are designed to help patients and families compare care options.
For Woodwinds, the jump from four to five stars comes as the hospital continues to expand services and refine patient care practices to meet the demands of a growing east metro population.
“It’s kind of just a reflection of all of the great things that we do every single day,” said Trent Langness, Vice President of Hospital Operations at Woodwinds. “With or without the star rating, we’re super proud of the hospital.”
According to hospital data, Woodwinds reported 13 total events on its Acute Care Harm Index in 2025, outperforming its target of 22. Serious Safety Events, defined as largely preventable incidents such as infections or falls with injury, dropped from 11 in 2024 to four in 2025. The hospital also met all Hospital-Acquired Infection targets, reduced falls with injuries, and recorded zero Patient Safety Indicators.
“The fact that we have such a low target and continue to meet it year after year is just amazing,” Langness said.
Woodwinds implemented a systemwide mobility standard to encourage patient movement, which is linked to fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.
Woodwinds has also expanded its services in recent years, adding a cancer care department, breast imaging center and infusion clinic. The hospital increased surgical capacity with an additional operating suite and a planned C-section suite.
Langness said the hospital has evolved significantly over the past two decades, shifting from what was once known primarily for orthopedics and childbirth into a high-demand, full-service hospital.
“What used to be a very calm, very quiet hospital has now become a very busy hospital,” he said.
Despite that growth, Langness said Woodwinds continues to emphasize its original identity as a holistic care facility designed to feel less clinical than traditional hospitals.
“When you step into Woodwinds, you can feel that it’s different,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like a hospital.”
CMS cautions that no rating system captures every factor that should guide a patient’s decision.
