HealthNews Dozen: Top 12 U.S. Hospitals Named by US News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has released their annual report on the Best Hospitals in the Nation. Almost every hospital in the United States was considered, with 4,852 being analyzed and put through the criterion. Only 152 made the cut with 14 being hailed as the super elite “Honor Roll.”

The U.S. News analysis takes each of 16 specialties (Cancer, heart disease, urology, etc.) and breaks them down into mortality rates, patient safety, and patient care. Scores are tabulated and less than 1 percent ranked high in at least one specialty. To achieve honor roll status, a hospital must be ranked in at least 6 of the 16 specialties used in the criterion and had to score high. According to the report, each honor roll hospital ranked high when analyzed by reputation, as determined by doctors selected from a national database who refer patients to specialty facilities when they face difficult cases. Mortality was also a factor, as judged by data supplied by Medicare statistics with certain conditions that required care by specialists. And though patient safety, such as harm to patients outside of the dangers of their diseases or conditions, contributed to scores, but a bigger part of the score was nurse staffing, the use of technology by the hospitals, and other patient care factors that contributed to their overall wellness.

1. Johns Hopkins Hospital

2. Mayo Clinic

3. Massachusetts General Hospital

4. Cleveland Clinic

5. UCLA Medical Center

6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital

7. UCSF Medical Center

8. Barnes-Jewish Hospital

9. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

10. Duke University Medical Center

11. Brigham and Women's Hospital

12. University of Washington Medical Center

At the top of the 2010 list is Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. It’s not the first time that Johns Hopkins has been ranked #1 in this survey. In fact, Johns Hopkins has ranked #1 for every year except the very first that U.S. News has publishing this report. That makes twenty years running, an impressive feat and a blessing to the citizens of Baltimore. With 15 specialties, it scored 30 points.

The Mayo Clinic took the #2 spot with 15 specialties and 28 points, followed by Massachusetts General, also with 15 specialties and 27 points. Cleveland Clinic at #4 had one less specialty (13) than #5 UCLA Med Center (14) but scored two points higher with a 26.

Both  #6 NY Presbyterian and #7 UC San Francisco had 11 specialties, and were 1 point apart. Barnes Jewish Hospital in #8 position has 10 specialties and scored 17, while Philadelphia University Hospital at #9 scored 16 with 12 specialties. Rounding out the HealthNews Dozen is Duke University Medical Center at #10 with 10 specialties and 116 points, Brigham and Women’s Hospital with 8 specialties and 14 points, and UW Medical Center, also with 114 points but only 8 specialties.

(The last two in U.S. News Top 14 on the Honor Roll are: UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Ann Arbor)