Two Cape Fear Valley Health System hospitals were recognized by U.S. News in its most-recent Best Hospitals rankings.

The annual list, now in its 32nd year, recognized Fayetteville’s Cape Fear Valley Medical Center as a Best Regional Hospital in North Carolina and Harnett Health’s Betsy Johnson Hospital as high-performing. After seven years of partnership, Cape Fear Valley Health System officially acquired Harnett Health in March through a merger deal.

In addition to the overall rating, seven of Cape Fear’s specialty-care areas were rated high performing: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke.

“We are pleased to receive this recognition from U.S. News. Providing exceptional healthcare for all our patients has always been our top priority,” Mike Nagowski, CEO of Cape Fear Valley Health, said in a statement. “Our team of caregivers is committed to the highest standards for quality and safety, and this recognition is a result of that commitment.”

Cape Fear Valley was ranked as the 18th best hospital in North Carolina on a list topped by Duke University Hospital and University of North Carolina Hospitals.

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst was ranked as the state’s fifth-best hospital and received a high-performing rating in 15 specialty-care areas.

The rankings, which are produced with RTI International, a major research organization based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, have become a popular benchmark in the hospital industry. RTI uses methodologies based largely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators, according to a news release.

The complete list is available at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals .