UCI Health listed among America’s Best Hospitals for 18th consecutive year
Programs in gynecology and urology nationally ranked
August 14, 2018
Orange, Calif.— For the 18th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has recognized UC Irvine Medical Center as one of “America’s Best Hospitals.” The annual rankings recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients and this year highlights the excellence of UCI Health programs in gynecology, No. 20, and urology, No. 33, among similar programs nationally.
The annual Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 29th year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or for common elective procedures
“The physicians, nurses and staff of UCI Health make a daily commitment to provide Orange County residents with accessible world-class treatment of serious and complex cases,” said Richard J. Gannotta, CEO, UCI Health System. “The physician-scientists in our gynecology and urology programs are national leaders and reflect the very best of our mission to Discover. Teach. Heal.”
The Department of Gynecology’s experts in maternal-fetal medicine are leaders in improving care in high-risk pregnancies and they have led efforts to reduce cardiovascular risk, obstetrical bleeding and unnecessary caesarean sections. UCI Health gynecologic oncologists provide unmatched clinical care in Southern California and have led national efforts to advance the standards of care for gynecologic cancers.
Physicians in the Department of Urology are nationally known for their clinical expertise and have advanced the standards of care for men’s and women’s urologic conditions, and kidney, prostate and bladder cancers. They are leaders in improving technology for the treatment of kidney stones and kidney disease.
UC Irvine Medical Center is the only Orange County hospital consistently rated among America’s best by U.S. News. It is ranked No. 11 in California and No. 6 in the Los Angeles metropolitan region. In addition to its 2018-19 nationally ranked specialties, UCI Health programs in cancer, gastroenterology & GI surgery, geriatrics, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics and pulmonology were rated as high performing. Procedures and conditions that were rated as high performing include abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery.
Since 2001, the magazine has listed UCI Health programs in urology, gynecology, geriatrics, cancer, digestive disorders and gastroenterology & GI surgery, nephrology, orthopedics and ear, nose and throat among the top 50 nationwide.
In addition to its longstanding inclusion among America’s Best Hospitals, UCI Health earned an eighth consecutive “A” rating in The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2018 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.
In January 2018, the Orange County Medical Association recognized more than 150 UCI Health physicians as "Physicians of Excellence." The UCI Health medical faculty also includes nearly 90 “Best Doctors in America,” more than any other hospital serving Orange County.
For the 2018-19 rankings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 158 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.
“For nearly 30 years, U.S. News has strived to make hospital quality more transparent to healthcare consumers nationwide,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “By providing the most comprehensive data available, we give patients and their physicians’ information to support their search for the best care across a range of specialties.”
The U.S. News Best Hospitals methodologies in most areas of care are based largely or entirely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators. Best Hospitals was produced by U.S. News with RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
For more information about the 2018-19 rankings, please visit our FAQ. The rankings will be published in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals 2019” guidebook available for pre-order now from the U.S. News Online Store and for purchase at other bookstores in late September.
UCI Health comprises the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. The 417-bed acute care hospital provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, and behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and regional burn center. It is the primary teaching hospital for the UCI School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on >FacebookTwitter.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.
About U.S. News & World Report: U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
