Forsyth Medical Center and Presbyterian Medical Center were recognized in 2008 as the only two U.S. hospitals among all of the VHA's Joint Commission reporting organizations to earn Superior System Performance honors and they received the same award again in 2009. Both hospitals achieved high-level performance in all four federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) quality measure categories: acute mycocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), pneumonia (PN) and surgical care improvement (SCIP).

In 2011, Forsyth Medical Center, Presbyterian Medical Center and Rowan Medical Center were winners of the 2011 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence. Only 28 hospitals nationwide were recognized for achieving top performance in clinical core measures.

Of the 36 High Reliable Hospitals in North Carolina in 2010, as rated by the North Carolina Center for Hospital Quality and Patient Safety, nine are Novant hospitals. They were rated as High Reliable for sustaining excellent patient care in one or more of the clinical quality measure categories.

Presbyterian Medical Center was recognized by the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for its exemplary outcomes in surgical patient care. It was the only North Carolina facility to earn this distinction and was one of just 26 hospitals nationwide to be recognized.

Forsyth Medical Center and Presbyterian Medical Center were recognized by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 2010 with a 3-star rating for providing consistent excellent cardiac surgery outcomes. This honor places both hospitals in the top 12 percent of all cardiac surgery programs in the nation.