UC Irvine Medical Center among 'America's Best Hospitals' for 13th consecutive year

Three specialties – geriatrics, kidney disorders and urology – ranked in top 50

For the 13th consecutive year, UC Irvine Medical Center has been listed among “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report and is ranked in the top 50 nationally in three specialties: 30^th for geriatrics, 47^th for kidney disorders and 48^th for urology.

“UCI Health is committed to providing Orange County with the highest-quality healthcare,” said Terry A. Belmont, CEO of UC Irvine Medical Center. “There is no question that in our region, we are the hospital of choice for the treatment of serious and complex cases.”

UC Irvine Medical Center is the only Orange County hospital consistently rated among America’s best by U.S. News and is ranked No. 9 in California and No. 4 in the Los Angeles area. Since 2001, the magazine has listed its programs in urology, gynecology, geriatrics, cancer, digestive disorders, kidney disorders, and ear, nose & throat among the top 50 nationwide. In addition, the UCI Health medical faculty includes more than 100 “Best Doctors in America,” more than any other hospital serving Orange County.

“The quality of care and services we provide to the Orange County community continues to be recognized on a national level,” said Dr. Ralph V. Clayman, professor of urology and dean of the UCI Health School of Medicine. “The university’s commitment to its mission – discover, teach, heal – attracts physicians who are leaders in their fields.”

For the 2013 “America’s Best Hospitals” report, U.S. News evaluated about 5,000 medical centers nationwide and ranked fewer than 150 of them, or 3 percent, in at least one of 16 specialties based on their ability to treat the most challenging cases. Using methodology created by RTI International, the magazine assessed each hospital’s reputation, mortality rate and patient care services. Additional points were awarded for Magnet status in nursing or designation as a Level I trauma center – both of which apply to UC Irvine Medical Center.

The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 412-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among “America’s Best Hospitals” for 13 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center. It is also the primary teaching hospital for the UCI Health School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County.