Oct. 29, 2026 | By Curtis Hill, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton
Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton achieved its fourth consecutive five-star rating in the TRICARE Inpatient Satisfaction Survey for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.
The national survey, which began in 1999, evaluates how beneficiary inpatient satisfaction at military treatment facilities compares to civilian healthcare benchmarks across the nation. The data serves as a critical measure of the Department of Defense’s progress toward delivering high-quality healthcare.
Because the nursing directorate maintains the highest level of day-to-day interaction with inpatients, hospital leadership pointed to frontline staff as the drivers behind the achievement. “The nurses and staff at NHCP take pride in offering the highest quality care to our beneficiaries,” said Capt. Sara Naczas, NHCP director of nursing services. “Our patients tell us that the nurses show how much they care about giving them the best possible experience. Achieving a five-star TRISS rating for four consecutive quarters underscores what we already knew—our patients love coming here because they know they can count on us.”
The consistent high marks directly align with the broader Military Health System strategic goals for 2024 through 2029, which focus heavily on attracting and re-attracting beneficiaries back to military treatment facilities.
Maintaining this momentum remains a top priority for NHCP leadership moving into the next fiscal year. “As Chief Medical Officer, I see patient feedback as both recognition and a responsibility,” said Capt. James Chung, the hospital CMO. “We should celebrate our staff while continuing to listen closely to where we can improve. Our goal is for every patient to feel heard, respected, and confident in their care, and for every military family to see NHCP as a trusted resource.”
Chung emphasized that sustaining these ratings is vital for long-term patient retention. “Trust is earned through consistent experiences,” Chung added. “These ratings reflect the voices of patients who received inpatient care at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and give military families a compelling reason to consider us for their care.”
