Best Hospitals in Dallas (2026)
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of America's largest metros, home to major health systems like Baylor Scott & White, UT Southwestern, Texas Health Resources, and Medical City Healthcare. The city has one ...
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of America's largest metros, home to major health systems like Baylor Scott & White, UT Southwestern, Texas Health Resources, and Medical City Healthcare. The city has one 5-star hospital and a strong 4-star tier, but also significant disparities in transparency and pricing.
This guide ranks Dallas hospitals using CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency data to help you choose the right facility for your needs and budget.
Top 5 Hospitals in Dallas
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Priced Procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centennial | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 25 |
| William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 232 |
| Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 142 |
| Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.16 | 141 |
| Baylor University Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | 191 |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Baylor Scott & White Centennial is Dallas's lone 5-star hospital, though it publishes only 25 priced procedures — low transparency for a top-rated facility. The 4-star tier is stronger: William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital (UT Southwestern), Texas Health Presbyterian, Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular, Baylor Scott & White Uptown, and Methodist Hospital for Surgery.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Cost data is limited for many Dallas hospitals. Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital at 0.16 and White Rock Medical Center at 0.16 offer the best documented ratios. Methodist Charlton sits at 0.19 and Methodist Dallas at 0.22. Parkland Health (the county hospital) at 0.22 is typically the most affordable option for uninsured patients.
Price Transparency
North Central Surgical Center leads with 234 priced procedures. UT Southwestern (Clements) publishes 232 — exceptional for an academic center. Medical City Heart and Medical City Spine each publish 228. Baylor University Medical Center publishes 191. The 5-star Baylor Centennial lags with only 25.
Best Value Hospitals in Dallas
- Best quality + transparency: William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital — 4-star with 232 priced procedures
- Best documented value: Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular — 4-star with 0.16 ratio and 141 procedures
- Best 3-star option: Baylor University Medical Center — 191 priced procedures at a major facility
- Best transparency overall: North Central Surgical Center — 234 published prices
- Best for uninsured: Parkland Health — county hospital with financial assistance programs
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Dallas
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $12–$200 depending on facility
- CT scans: $200–$3,200 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro
- MRI: $300–$3,800+ — outpatient imaging centers can save 50–70%
- ER visits: Facility fees from $500 at smaller facilities to $2,000+ at major hospitals
Compare real prices at Taven's price comparison tool.
Dallas Hospital System Overview
- Baylor Scott & White Health — Texas's largest nonprofit system. Centennial (5-star), Heart & Vascular (4-star), Uptown (4-star), and Baylor University Medical Center (3-star). Mixed transparency across campuses.
- UT Southwestern Medical Center — Elite academic system with Clements University Hospital (4-star). Exceptional transparency with 232 priced procedures. Home to multiple Nobel laureates.
- Texas Health Resources — Major nonprofit with Presbyterian Hospital Dallas (4-star) as flagship. Part of the Southwestern Health Resources network.
- Medical City Healthcare (HCA) — For-profit system with Heart Hospital and Spine Hospital (3-star) plus other locations. Strong transparency (228 procedures).
- Methodist Health System — Includes Charlton (3-star) and Dallas Medical Center (3-star). Moderate transparency.
- Parkland Health — Dallas County's public hospital (2-star). Most affordable for uninsured patients with robust financial assistance.
- Children's Medical Center Dallas — Top-ranked pediatric facility (not on adult CMS scale).
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Dallas
- UT Southwestern offers the best transparency + quality combo. 4-star with 232 published procedure prices — exceptional for making informed decisions.
- Don't assume the 5-star hospital is the best choice. Baylor Centennial is top-rated but publishes only 25 prices. You may get better upfront cost information from 4-star facilities.
- Compare prices before scheduled procedures. Use Taven's comparison tool with real Dallas hospital data.
- Watch for freestanding ERs. DFW has many freestanding emergency rooms charging full ER facility fees. Urgent care is much cheaper for non-emergencies.
- Parkland is the safety net. For uninsured patients, Parkland's financial assistance programs are among the most generous in Texas.
- Ask about charity care — Baylor, Texas Health, and UT Southwestern all offer financial assistance.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to check for errors.
How We Rank Hospitals
Our rankings use CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, cost-to-charge ratios from CMS cost reports, and price transparency compliance data. We don't accept advertising from hospitals. Learn more about our methodology.