Best Hospitals in Richmond (2026)
Richmond's healthcare market features three competing systems: VCU Health (the academic medical center), Bon Secours Mercy Health (the largest community system), and HCA Virginia (the for-profit al...
Richmond's healthcare market features three competing systems: VCU Health (the academic medical center), Bon Secours Mercy Health (the largest community system), and HCA Virginia (the for-profit alternative). While the city lacks a 5-star hospital, its mix of academic, nonprofit, and for-profit options gives residents meaningful choices — with wide variations in pricing.
This guide ranks Richmond-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you find the right combination of quality and value.
Top 5 Hospitals in Richmond
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Priced Procedures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.06 | 166 |
| VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.25 | 77 |
| Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐ | 0.17 | 162 |
| Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital | ⭐⭐⭐ | 0.18 | 176 |
| VCU Medical Center | ⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Richmond's top-rated hospitals earn 4 stars: Memorial Medical Center (Mechanicsville) and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital. The 3-star tier includes Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center (Midlothian), Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital (Richmond), and VCU Medical Center. The city notably lacks any 5-star hospitals, and its main academic center earns only 3 stars.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Richmond shows wide variation in markups. Memorial Medical Center has a 0.06 ratio (about 17x markup) — among the steepest in any market. Bon Secours St. Francis at 0.17 (6x) and St. Mary's at 0.18 (6x) are more moderate. VCU Health Tappahannock at 0.25 (4x) has the lowest actual markup. Cost data is limited for VCU Medical Center's main campus.
Price Transparency
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital leads with 176 priced procedures. Memorial Medical Center publishes 166 procedures. Bon Secours St. Francis publishes 162. VCU Health Tappahannock publishes 77 procedures.
Best Value Hospitals in Richmond
- Best overall quality: Memorial Medical Center — 4-star, 166 priced procedures, in Mechanicsville
- Best in Richmond: Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital — 3-star with good transparency (176 procedures) and moderate ratio (0.18)
- Best south metro: Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center — 3-star, 0.17 ratio, 162 procedures, in Midlothian
- Best for academic/specialty care: VCU Medical Center — Level I trauma center and Virginia's only academic medical center in the metro
- Best lowest markup: VCU Health Tappahannock — 4-star, 0.25 ratio (lowest markup), but limited scope
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Richmond
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $15–$220 depending on facility
- CT scans: $300–$3,500 in the Richmond metro
- MRI: $400–$3,800+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $600 at community hospitals to $2,000+ at VCU Medical Center
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Richmond Hospital System Overview
- VCU Health — Virginia Commonwealth University's academic health system. VCU Medical Center (3-star) is the region's Level I trauma center and only academic medical center. Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is NCI-designated. VCU Health Tappahannock (4-star) is a newer community facility. Essential for complex cases, trauma, transplants, and specialty care.
- Bon Secours Mercy Health — Catholic nonprofit system and Richmond's largest community hospital provider. Operates St. Mary's Hospital (3-star, Richmond), St. Francis Medical Center (3-star, Midlothian), Memorial Regional Medical Center (Mechanicsville), and several other facilities. Known for community health and accessible care.
- HCA Virginia — For-profit chain operating Chippenham Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, Henrico Doctors' Hospital, and Retreat Doctors' Hospital. Market presence focused on suburban locations. CMS data was limited for individual HCA facilities in our database.
Richmond's Healthcare Landscape
Richmond's three-system competition (VCU Health, Bon Secours, HCA Virginia) provides choices, but the absence of any 5-star hospital is notable. Virginia's Certificate of Need laws limit new hospital development, which can reduce price competition. Bon Secours' broad community presence and VCU's academic mission provide a reasonable floor for quality, while HCA's for-profit model adds commercial competition. Richmond's healthcare costs are moderate by East Coast standards.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Richmond
- VCU Medical Center for trauma and complex care. The region's only academic center and Level I trauma facility.
- Bon Secours for routine community care. St. Mary's (176 procedures) and St. Francis (162 procedures) offer strong transparency with 3-star quality.
- Memorial Medical Center is the 4-star option. Located in Mechanicsville, it's the highest-rated general hospital in the metro.
- Compare prices before scheduled procedures. Use Taven's comparison tool with real Richmond data.
- Virginia has moderate patient protections. The federal No Surprises Act applies. Virginia's balance billing protections add a layer of state-level protection.
- Ask about charity care — Both VCU Health and Bon Secours offer financial assistance programs.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to catch errors and overcharges.
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.