July 11, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nine UAB Hospital specialty programs are among the nation's top 50 - five are in the top 25 - of the 16 categories evaluated at America's 5,462 hospitals this year by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings appear in the magazine's 18th annual "America's Best Hospitals" issue, released today.
With its nine ranked programs, UAB Hospital was one of only 170 hospitals, or about 3 percent of U.S. institutions studied -and the only hospital in Alabama or Mississippi - to rank high enough in even one specialty to make the magazine's national "Best Hospital's" list.
Highlights for UAB Hospital this year include:
- Rheumatology program, 8th; 17th consecutive year being ranked
- Kidney disease, 14th
- Geriatrics, 15th
- Gynecology, 19th
- Cancer, 20th
- Ear, Nose and Throat, 29th
- Respiratory Disorders, 24th
- Urology, 36th
- Heart and Heart Surgery, 46th
"We are very happy to be recognized for the high quality care we provide at UAB Hospital," said Mike Waldrum, M.D., CEO of UAB Hospital. "Our longstanding inclusion in this listing is a tribute to the efforts of everyone who works here and the commitment they have to providing our patients with the best care possible."
According to the magazine's published methodology, the ranking for 12 of the categories is based on three equal parts: reputation, mortality and a mix of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The 50 hospitals in each of these specialties with the highest scores are listed. Rankings for ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology are based strictly on reputational scores and the magazine lists the top 25 programs for each.