In 2011, eight Texas hospitals landed on Thomson Reuters' 100 Top Hospitals® list. The study uses objective research and independent public data to recognize the best U.S. hospitals. Overall performance, operational efficiency and financial stability are among Thomson Reuters' measurement criteria.

Teaching hospitals recognized for 2011 were Memorial Hermann Hospital System in Houston and Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi. Among large community hospitals, Thomson Reuters recognized Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler; Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth; St. David's Medical Center in Austin; and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana. Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital was the sole Texas recipient for medium community hospitals, while Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie and the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital in Sugar Land were among the nation's top small community hospitals.

U.S. News annually reviews data for nearly 5,000 hospitals in 16 adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties to find the best. In 2010-2011, five of 32 Austin-area hospitals made the list along with 19 of the Dallas region's 116 hospitals, six of 36 hospitals in the San Antonio metro area, and 24 of Houston's 94 metro area hospitals.

Houston's University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Treatment Center received the group's most distinguished recognition as the number-one hospital for cancer treatment. MD Anderson also ranked sixth overall in ear, nose and throat care and 10th in urology. Gynecology and gastroenterology at MD Anderson both ranked among the nation's top 20 in their respective specialties.