A recent survey administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranks Iowa hospitals as first in the nation.

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems Survey was the first national standardized survey for patients to provide feedback on hospital care, a release from the Iowa Hospital Association said.

Iowa was tied for first with Kansas and Nebraska hospitals for overall hospital rating.

The survey is based on feedback from patients discharged between July 2010 and June 2011, the release said.

— by Kristen East