UAB Synopsis, Vol. 27, No. 31, August 11, 2008
Nine UAB specialty programs are among the nation’s top 50 in the 16 categories evaluated at 5462 American hospitals this year by U.S. News & World Report. Five of the nine are among the top 25 programs, according to rankings in the magazine’s 18th annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue, released July 11.
UAB Hospital was 1 of only 170 hospitals, or about 3% of US institutions studied, to rank high enough in even one specialty to make the much-watched “Best Hospitals” list. No other hospital in Alabama or Mississippi made the list.
Rheumatology, ranked for the 17th consecutive year, was eighth in the rankings.
Other cited programs and rankings were:
- Kidney disease, 14th;
- Geriatrics, 15th;
- Gynecology, 19th;
- Cancer, 20th;
- Ear, Nose, and Throat, 29th;
- Respiratory Disorders, 24th;
- Urology, 36th; and
- Heart and Heart Surgery, 46th.
“We are very happy to be recognized for the high quality care we provide at UAB Hospital,” said UAB Hospital CEO Mike Waldrum, MD, MSc, MBA. “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.