U.S. News & World Report’s 2017-2018 Best Hospitals report ranks UAB No. 18 in the nation, jumping 12 spots from last year’s ranking and 19 spots from its 2015-2016 ranking.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Director James Davies, M.D., performs surgery in the OR at UAB Hospital.

“The UAB cardiovascular service line is very proud of our continually improving U.S. News and World report ranking, now at No. 18 nationally,” said Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Director James Davies. “We are currently the only ranked program in the state of Alabama, and we are in the top 3 programs in the Southeast. Every member of the team should be applauded for his or her efforts in making this program so valuable for the patients of Alabama.”

Cardiology and Heart Surgery is one of 10 specialties at UAB ranked in the top 50 and one of four specialties at UAB ranked in the top 20.

U.S. News calculates a hospital's overall Cardiology & Heart Surgery score based on various data categories, including patient outcomes in areas such as treatment of cardiovascular disease, heart transplants, and other complex heart conditions, volume of high-risk patients, nurse staffing and quality, public transparency, and advanced technology. Four conditions and procedures applicable to UAB Cardiology & Heart Surgery were also ranked high performing in the report: heart failure, heart bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.