Wake Forest Baptist Marks 20 Years of National Rankings on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” List

July 17, 2012

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has once again been named among America’s “Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report, marking 20 consecutive years among the nation’s finest hospitals.

In the 2012-13 edition of the annual rankings, Wake Forest Baptist was among the top 50 hospitals in seven specialties: Cancer (#26), Gastroenterology (#42), Geriatrics (#50), Nephrology (#12), Neurology & Neurosurgery (#42), Pulmonology (#21) and Urology (#41).

The Medical Center was also nationally ranked as “high performing” in five specialties: Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Ear, Nose & Throat, Gynecology and Orthopedics.

This year, U.S. News added a new list that ranked the top three hospitals within each state. Wake Forest Baptist was rated #2 in North Carolina. In the Piedmont regional rankings, the Medical Center remains among the best in the area.

In addition, 114 Medical Center physicians are also among the nation’s Top Doctors, as reported by U.S. News & World Report, the most of any hospital in the Triad. Of those physicians, 38 are among the top one percent in their specialties. 

“Wake Forest Baptist has pioneered some of the leading breakthroughs in clinical medicine, from the nation’s first hand reimplantation to growing tissue and organs in the laboratory from a patient’s own cells,” said John D. McConnell, M.D., chief executive officer, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “We are driven by our mission to improve health in our community, our region and our country and this national recognition of our efforts is gratifying.”

The Medical Center is also listed among the “Most Wired” institutions in the country, the only academic medical center in the state and the only hospital in the Triad to receive the recognition.

This year’s Best Hospitals, the 23rd annual edition, showcases more than 720 of the nation’s estimated 5,000 hospitals. Fewer than 150 are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties. The rest of the recognized hospitals met a standard of performance nearly as demanding in one or more specialties.

U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow, said the rankings are a GPS-type aid to help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges. “All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care,” said Comarow. “They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases.”

Media Relations

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

Chad Campbell: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587

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