UCLA Medical Center ranks as one of the top three American hospitals ? and the best hospital in the western United States for the 18th consecutive year ? according to a U.S. News & World Report survey that reviewed patient outcomes data, reputation among physicians and other care-related factors.
The 18th annual guide to “America’s Best Hospitals” highlights the magazine’s July 25 edition.
U.S. News & World Report put 5,462 medical centers through a screening process to create the 16 specialty rankings in the 2007 edition of “America’s Best Hospitals.” Just 173 hospitals made it into the rankings, and only 18 made the honor roll. The honor roll recognizes hospitals that demonstrate excellence across many specialties.
According to a statement from the magazine, the hospitals that make the honor roll are often centers that treat the sickest patients and conduct bench-to-bedside research that advances the state of the art.
“Our doctors, nurses and staff help the sick, advance medical knowledge and pursue scientific research so that the people of Los Angeles and beyond have access to the highest quality medical care,” said Dr. David Feinberg, chief executive officer of the UCLA Hospital System. “This is a wonderful tribute to our outstanding medical and nursing staffs and the entire health care team at UCLA Medical Center. Our goal at UCLA Medical Center is to provide the best patient care to each and every one of our patients.”
Hospitals are ranked in 16 specialties, from cancer and heart disease to neurosurgery and urology. In 12 of the 16 specialties, ranked hospitals must meet standards that are mostly driven by hard data. The rankings also include a reputation survey among randomly selected American Medical Association physicians, mortality data and quality-of-care measures, such the relative availability of nurses, advanced technology and professional credentialing.
“To once again be in the company of the nation’s best hospitals, when the rapid changes in health care constantly challenge our commitment to excellence, makes us extraordinarily proud of the dedication ? day in and day out ? of our physicians, scientists, nurses and our entire staff,” said Dr. Gerald S. Levey, UCLA vice chancellor for medical services and dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “We congratulate each and every one of them for helping UCLA earn this well-deserved distinction. With accomplishments spanning every discipline, UCLA Medical Center truly has reason to celebrate.”
Nationally, UCLA ranked in the top 20 in 15 of the 16 specialty areas. In each of the following specialties, UCLA ranked best in the western United States (UCLA’s national rankings are indicated): digestive disorders (No. 5); ear, nose and throat (No. 11); geriatrics (No. 1); kidney disease (No. 7); ophthalmology at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute (No. 5); orthopedics (No. 9); psychiatry at the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA (No. 5); rheumatology (No. 5); and urology (No. 4). Other specialties in which UCLA ranked nationally in the top 20 were: cancer at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center (No. 8); endocrinology (No. 13); gynecology (No. 13); heart and heart surgery (No. 11); neurology and neurosurgery (No. 8); and respiratory disorders (No. 15).
UCLA Medical Center was rated one of the top three hospitals in the nation, along with Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (No. 1) and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. (No. 2).