National survey names University of Chicago Medical Center to the Honor Roll of 'Best Hospitals'

Only Illinois hospital ever to make prestigious list

Contact
John Easton
(773) 702-6241
john.easton@uchospitals.edu

July 13, 2007

In its annual survey, U.S.News & World Report selected the University of Chicago Medical Center as one of the 18 best hospitals in the United States.

In the 2007 "Best Hospitals" issue (July 23, 2007, on newsstands July 16), the magazine ranked the University of Chicago Medical Center at 17th, tied with Cedars-Sinai of Los Angeles, out of America's 5,462 hospitals. Because the Medical Center scored highly in so many areas it is featured in the magazine's elite list of "Honor Roll" hospitals.

The Medical Center--the only Illinois hospital ever included in the honor roll--has appeared on this sought-after list 10 times since 1995.

Two programs, digestive disorders (#6) and cancer (#7), were ranked in the top 10 nationwide. Six more programs ranked in the top 25: endocrinology (#11), neurology and neurosurgery (#14), kidney disease (#22), heart and heart surgery (#23), geriatrics (#24) and ear, nose and throat (#25). Gynecology (#39) and respiratory (#50) scored in the top 50.

The rankings are based on a mathematical formula that takes into account (1) the ratio between actual and expected mortality at a hospital; (2) a group of factors such as available technology, patient/community services, procedure volume and nursing care, including Magnet status; and (3) the institution's reputation based on a poll of 200 specialists in each field, averaged over three years. These specialists are asked to list "the five hospitals they consider best in their specialty for difficult cases, without taking location or expense into account (or naming your own hospital)."

According to U.S.News, "Out of 5,462 hospitals evaluated, only 173 met that standard in one or more specialties. Most that did are referral centers, places accustomed to seeing the toughest patients and conducting bench-to-bedside research that advances the state of the art."

"Of the 173 ranked hospitals," the magazine added, "a mere 18 displayed the marked breadth of expertise" that qualified them for the "super elite Honor Roll."

Last March, two bioscience graduate programs, paleontology and ecology/evolutionary biology, were ranked the best in the United States, and the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine was tied for 15th in the U.S.News & World Report "Best Graduate Schools" issue.

2007 Best Hospitals--U.S.News & World Report

All Ranked Illinois Hospitals

Key to Illinois Hospitals