University Hospital Named One of the Best Hospitals for 10th Straight Year

Cincinnati - University Hospital has been ranked for a 10th consecutive year as one of the nation's best hospitals, according to a report listed in U.S. News' 2009 publication of America's Best Hospitals. Noted for excellence in Ear, Nose and Throat  (Otolaryngology), the rankings help solidify University Hospital's reputation as the leading provider of health care in the region.

"This is yet another recognition of our ability to provide world-class treatment right here in Cincinnati," says Lee Ann Liska, Executive Director and Senior Vice President of University Hospital. "It's proof that healthcare backed by academic research is truly making a difference in our community. We couldn't be more thrilled with this accolade."

The U.S.News & World Report "America's Best Hospitals" ranks 16 different medical specialties at hospitals nationwide. The standards for ranking in "Best Hospitals" are rigorous. To be considered for this list, hospitals have to meet any of three standards: membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals, affiliation with a medical school, or availability of at least nine of 18 key technology-related services. In each specialty, a hospital must have performed a given number of defined procedures or had to be recommended by at least one physician responding to U.S.News surveys in the past three years. These hospitals received a score that equally weighed reputation, death rate and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The 50 hospitals in each specialty with the highest score are listed.

"The truly best hospitals are never satisfied," agreed Best Hospitals editor Avery Comarow. "Of course they have high medical standards. But the emphasis is not only on doing well, but always doing better--squeezing another few percentage points out of the infection rate, improving the quality of life of elderly patients besides helping more of them survive."

University Hospital, Cincinnati is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system of physicians and hospitals serving Greater Cincinnati. University Hospital provides primary care and specialized inpatient and outpatient services to more than 500,000 patients per year. It is home to the area's only adult Level I Trauma Center, accredited helicopter and ground ambulance service, and multi-solid organ transplant center and is consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report's annual guide to America's Best Hospitals.