Medical Center Ranked in Eight Categories of “Best Hospitals”

July 15, 2010

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is ranked in eight categories in U.S.News & World Report's 2010-11 Best Hospitals, online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and featured in the August issue, available on newsstands Tuesday July, 27.

The rankings list the top 50 hospitals and medical centers, out of a total of almost 5,000 in the nation, in each of 16 categories.

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Wake Forest Baptist is ranked in cancer (36th), ear, nose and throat (35th), gynecology (42nd), heart and heart surgery (50th), kidney disorders (22nd), neurology and neurosurgery (50th), pulmonology (39th) and urology (46th).

“This is a great honor to be ranked among the best hospitals in the nation, but it is also indicative of the tremendous accomplishments of our faculty and staff,” said John D. McConnell, M.D., chief executive officer of Wake Forest Baptist. “The rankings are a reflection of the growing reputation of our faculty physicians among their peers nationwide, of our advanced treatments and technologies, and of the highly competent and compassionate patient care to which all of our employees are dedicated.”

The rankings in 12 specialties, including the eight in which Wake Forest Baptist was listed, are driven by data in four areas: reputation, mortality rate, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The goal of the rankings is to identify medical centers that excel at treating a variety of demanding illnesses within a specialty. Four other specialties are ranked solely by reputation among physicians in each specialty.

To be qualified for the rankings, hospitals or medical centers must meet at least one of four criteria, plus a patient volume requirement in each specialty. Only 152 medical centers nationwide met those criteria and also scored high enough to be ranked.

“When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for yourself or someone close to you,” said U.S.News health rankings editor Avery Comarow. “These hospitals are accustomed to seeing the sickest patients day in and day out.”

Wake Forest Baptist has been ranked in “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S.News & World Report since 1993.

Media Relations

Paula Faria: pfaria@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1279

Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587