Best Hospitals to Work for in Alaska

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Alaska is among the top-paying states for registered nurses (RNs), with an annual mean salary of $97,230, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Plus, it provides unique and outstanding experiences, like walking atop glaciers and seeing the northern lights. The largest U.S. state by area is also known for its “midnight sun,” a natural phenomenon when the sun is still visible at midnight.

Considering all that, keep reading to learn about seven of the best hospitals in Alaska.

Alaska’s Top Hospital

• Alaska Native Medical Center
• Alaska Medical Center
• Alaska Regional Hospital
• Bartlett Regional Hospital
• Central Peninsula Hospital
• Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
• Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

Best Hospitals in Alaska

Our rankings are based on the U.S. News & World Report’s ratings, which consider various factors, such as patient survival outcomes, nurse staffing and clinical services. We’ve also included information from reliable sources, such as Medicare, Healthgrades and The Leapfrog Group.

Alaska Native Medical Center

Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) is rated high performing in heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and pneumonia by U.S. News & World Report.

The hospital is a Level II trauma center and received The Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision Award from the American Hospital Association for its efforts to develop healthy communities.

Learn more about Alaska Native Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Anchorage, Alaska
• Employees: 250+

Alaska Medical Center

Alaska Medical Center, part of the Providence health system, is the largest hospital by revenue in the state and the only one with Magnet status. A Magnet hospital has various features, such as good clinical outcomes and patient experience, and high nurse satisfaction scores, as determined by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The hospital is rated high performing in pulmonology and lung surgery, as well as many other procedures or conditions, such as heart attack and kidney failure, by U.S. News & World Report.  It received the National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Chest Pain – Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology for its excellence in the treatment of heart attack patients.

The facility was also awarded with the Best of Alaska Business Award as one of the best hospitals in Alaska.

The Joint Commission accredited it for its excellence in general medical care and behavioral health care and human services.

Learn more about Alaska Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Anchorage, Alaska
• Hospital network: 52 facilities (across the entire system)
• Employees: 2,040+

Alaska Regional Hospital

Alaska Regional Hospital has a four-star rating from the federal government and an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group for its hospital safety. 

The facility received the Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades and the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for its excellence in treating stroke events.

Learn more about Alaska Regional Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Anchorage, Alaska
• Hospital network: 2 facilities 
• Employees: 1,000+

Bartlett Regional Hospital

Bartlett Regional Hospital is rated high performing in hip fracture by U.S. News & World Report.

The facility received the bronze-level Beacon Award of Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for its patient care in the critical care unit (CCU) and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades.

It also received The Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission for its healthcare quality, and a four-star rating from the federal government. 

Learn more about Bartlett Regional Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Juneau, Alaska

Central Peninsula Hospital

Central Peninsula Hospital is rated high performing in COPD and pneumonia by U.S. News & World Report.

The facility received The Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission for general medical care, home care, and behavioral health care and human services.

Learn more about Central Peninsula Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit
• Location: Soldotna, Alaska
• Employees: 980+

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital (FMH) was named one of the World’s Best Hospitals by Newsweek in 2022. It’s rated high performing in heart attack, back surgery and hip fracture by U.S. News & World Report. 

The facility received the Organ Donation Referral Achievement Award from LifeCenter Northwest for reaching an organ referral rate of 90% or higher, and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award three years in a row from Healthgrades.

The federal government gave it a three-star rating and The Joint Commission accredited it for its excellence in home care and general care quality.

Learn more about Fairbanks Memorial Hospital:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center has a three-star rating from the federal government and a “B” grade from The Leapfrog Group for its hospital safety. 

The facility is accredited for its excellent services in laboratory and acute stroke care by The Joint Commission.

Learn more about Mat-Su Regional Medical Center:

• Administration: nonprofit 
• Location: Palmer, Alaska
• Employees: 800+

What makes a best hospital in Alaska

It’s easy to see why some hospitals become top ones: They invest in their employees and patients, for example, by offering nursing career development opportunities and a good patient experience.

Benefits

A nurse salary in Alaska is 17% higher than the national average. Employers also offer competitive benefits, such as discount programs and medical plans.

Growth opportunity

If you’re a RN and looking for new challenges, specializing as a nurse practitioner (NP) may be an option. A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is another specialization that could increase your chances of career growth.

Employee satisfaction

Nurses’ psychological well-being is essential to providing quality care. To prevent job fatigue and burnout — both prevalent health problems — providing flexible working hours, clear communication, and workplace health promotion are valuable strategies.

High patient satisfaction

High patient satisfaction is one of the most immediate results of investing in employee engagement. Happy employees have lower absenteeism, which means less chance of no-shows for appointments, for example.

Other factors that make a top hospital

There are a number of factors that, in addition to benefits, career growth and work satisfaction, may distinguish the top hospitals in Alaska. Read on to learn about them.

Safety record is critical

Most nurses, especially those who have been accepted by top employers like the above-listed ones, document health data about patients with security measures and follow infection control protocols.

Hospital policies focus on customer services 

A patient-centric perspective requires not only excellent patient care, but the creation of positive emotions in patients, efficient processes and a comfortable atmosphere.

Latest technology and training improve healthcare

Technology is improving healthcare through common health trackers, such as sleeping monitors and meditation headbands, as well as sophisticated devices like smart pills and disinfectant robots. The best hospitals explore many of these possibilities.

Ethics lead the way

Health ethics explore many complex discussions, including advertising and human research. A hospital’s ethical values serve as a guideline for all healthcare professionals in their interactions with patients.

Next steps

Whether as a registered nurse or a specialist, such as a nurse anesthetist, working in one of the above-listed Alaska hospitals may elevate your skills and career aspirations.

But it starts with job hunting. Continue reading to check our tips.

Build your resume

Knowing how to structure and format a resume is crucial to getting accepted in desirable jobs. Understand how to write your nursing resume with our guide, which explains everything you need to know, from writing a summary to describing your experience.

Join a nurses association

Joining a nursing organization increases your chances to put your career plans in action, especially with the help of fellow nurses and leaders. A nursing union is another valid option, especially if you want to improve workplace policies and conditions.

Attend industry educational conferences and workshops

Nursing workshops and educational conferences also give various opportunities for staying up to date with healthcare innovations. Learn more about events and get tips about career development in our advice section for nurses interested in working in Alaska.

Keep up with continuing education requirements

Working in Alaska requires at least 30 contact hours as Continuing Education Units (CEUs), in addition to professional activities and other education requirements.

Access our free Alaska CEU courses online and get learning in the palm of your hand.

Search for job openings

You already know the best hospitals in Alaska, how to improve your resume and how to meet the state’s educational requirements. Now it’s time to search for job openings. Join Incredible Health and take advantage of a proprietary technology that matches you with the right role at the right employer in less than a month. 

Transfer your nursing license to Alaska

Nurses who aren’t from Alaska need to consider that the state is still awaiting the passage of the Nurse Licensure Compact legislation. 

Read our guide to know more useful information, in case you need to transfer your nursing license.