University Times

For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has been placed on U.S. News & World Report magazine’s America’s Best Hospitals 2003 Honor Roll as one of the “best of the best” hospitals in the United States.

UPMC hospitals placed 15th out of 6,003 eligible hospitals in the United States. UPMC remains the only area health system to receive that distinction.

U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Hospitals is an assessment of the nation’s hospitals based on an index made up of three equal parts related to quality of care: reputation, mortality and various factors such as procedure volume and nursing care.

According to the magazine, the Honor Roll recognizes those institutions that perform at a very high level across many specialties and that rank close to the top in a number of them.

This year, UPMC is recognized in 15 specialty areas, more than any other hospital in western Pennsylvania. The system is ranked 7th in ear, nose and throat, 7th in pediatrics, 12th in cancer, 12th in psychiatry (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic), 13th in orthopaedics, 13th in rheumatology, 16th in digestive disorders, 17th in respiratory disorders, 17th in kidney disease, 20th in geriatrics, 29th in gynecology, 31st in heart/heart surgery, 36th in hormonal disorders, 36th in neurology and neurosurgery and 44th in urology.

UPMC Presbyterian placed in 13 specialty areas, UPMC’s Magee-Womens Hospital was ranked in gynecology and UPMC’s Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was ranked in pediatrics.

The rankings appear in the July 28 issue.