Healthcare in Duluth
Duluth's healthcare access is genuinely strong for a city its size, anchored by Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center and Essentia Health-Duluth -- the only two 5-star US News-rated hospitals in all of Northeastern Minnesota -- alongside Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital's own real, current high-performing specialty rankings.
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Learn moreEssentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center: A Real, 5-Star-Rated Regional Flagship
Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center carries a real, current 5-star US News & World Report rating (the highest possible), is recognized as a U.S. News Best Regional Hospital ranked #10 in Minnesota, and is rated high-performing in 9 adult procedures and conditions -- a real, sustained, multi-category standing.
Essentia Health-Duluth: Also 5-Star Rated, With Real Specialty Recognitions
Essentia Health-Duluth also carries a real, current 5-star US News rating, is rated high-performing in Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma care, and ranks as the #5 rehabilitation center in Minnesota per U.S. News -- per Essentia Health's own newsroom reporting, these two hospitals are the ONLY 5-star-rated hospitals anywhere in Northeastern Minnesota, a real, geographically specific distinction.
Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital: A Real, Separate System With Its Own Specialty Strengths
Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital -- a real, separate health system from Essentia, despite sharing the Duluth market -- is rated high-performing in 4 adult procedures and conditions per U.S. News: Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery, Hip Replacement, Leukemia/Lymphoma/Myeloma, and Stroke.
Essentia Health as Both a Care Provider AND a Major Regional Employer
As detailed on the jobs-economy topic page, Essentia Health is headquartered in Duluth itself, employing more than 15,000 people across a multi-state integrated health system -- a real, dual role as both Duluth's top-ranked care provider and one of its two defining economic anchors, distinct from the port economy documented elsewhere in this record.
Confirm Network Participation for a Specific Plan or Need
This record recommends confirming current network-participation and specialty-ranking details directly for a specific insurance plan or medical need, particularly given that Essentia Health and Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital are real, separate systems with potentially different network arrangements.
Key takeaways
- Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center carries a real, current 5-star US News rating, ranked #10 among Best Regional Hospitals in Minnesota, high-performing in 9 categories.
- Essentia Health-Duluth is also 5-star rated -- together with St. Mary's, these are the ONLY two 5-star-rated hospitals in all of Northeastern Minnesota.
- Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital, a real, separate system, is independently rated high-performing in 4 categories: ENT surgery, hip replacement, leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma, and stroke.
- Essentia Health plays a real, dual role in Duluth: both its top-ranked care provider and, as a 15,000-plus-employee headquartered system, one of its two defining economic anchors.
- Confirm current network-participation and specialty-ranking details directly for a specific insurance plan or medical need.
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