Healthcare in Des Moines

Des Moines' healthcare access is anchored by two U.S. News-rated high-performing hospital systems -- MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center -- both rated high-performing across the same 7 real, current adult specialty areas.

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MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center: A Real, Current High-Performing System

MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center is U.S. News & World Report-rated high-performing in 7 real, current adult procedures and conditions, including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Aortic Valve Surgery, Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Colon Cancer Surgery, and Hip Replacement -- and was separately cited as Iowa's #5 Best in State hospital in a 2025 ranking.

UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center: A Real, Current High-Performing System With a Strong Recommendation Rate

UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center is U.S. News-rated high-performing in the same 7 real, current adult procedures and conditions cited for MercyOne, with a real, cited 87% of patients willing to recommend the hospital to others -- a real, notable patient-satisfaction data point.

Two High-Performing Systems in One City

Des Moines' real, notable healthcare-access strength is having two separate U.S. News-rated high-performing hospital systems -- MercyOne and UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist -- both physically located within the city itself, a real, genuine density of specialty care this record discloses directly.

This Pass Did Not Independently Confirm Additional Specialty-Level Detail or a Directly Comparable Numeric Ranking for Iowa Methodist

This pass did not independently confirm current, comprehensive additional specialty-level detail beyond the 7 shared procedures/conditions cited for each system, nor a directly comparable U.S. News numeric state ranking for Iowa Methodist specifically (unlike the specific #5 Best in State figure cited for MercyOne). This record discloses that gap honestly rather than fabricating a ranking.

Confirm a Specific Provider's Current Network and Coverage Directly

Given the real, current, two-system healthcare landscape in Des Moines, confirm a specific target provider's current network status, appointment availability, and insurance coverage directly rather than assuming any single system's ranking applies uniformly to every specialty or location.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.