University of Colorado Hospital ranks among nation's best in 2006
University of Colorado Hospital is among the nation’s best health care centers, ranking in nine of 16 specialties and reaching top-20 status in four categories, including sixth nationwide for the treatment of patients with respiratory disorders, according to the latest “America’s Best Hospitals” survey by U.S.News & World Report.
Out of 5,189 U.S. hospitals, only 3 percent, or 176 in all, are ranked in one or more of the 16 categories in this year’s U.S.News & World Report rankings. The magazine has issued its annual survey of American hospitals since 1990 as part of efforts to identify the nation’s top health care centers. Qualifiers this year included hospitals that “take on and excel at tough procedures and conditions,” and “follow and often pioneer new treatment guidelines.”
In this year’s survey, University of Colorado Hospital ranked among the best in the following categories: respiratory disorders, sixth nationwide; kidney disease, 11th; endocrinology, 15th; gynecology, 19th; digestive disorders, 30th; ear, nose and throat, 31st; cancer, 32nd; neurology and neurosurgery, 33rd, and orthopedics, 43rd.
“ The dedication and hard work of all our physicians, staff, nurses, administrators and support staff are reflected in each and every ranking we have achieved over the years,” said University of Colorado Hospital President and CEO Bruce Schroffel. “We are thrilled to have been classified as one of this country’s elite hospitals for a dozen consecutive years. This type of national recognition reinforces our mission to provide the best possible health care to our patients, an excellent work environment for our employees, and a world-class teaching hospital for the people of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region.”
According to the report, hospital reputation, mortality data, and quality-of-care measures such as nurse-to-patient ratios and availability of key technologies were among the three major factors that were used to determine a hospital’s overall performance. Most of the data came from the American Hospital Association’s 2004 member survey.
In 11 of 16 specialties, hard data largely determined a hospital’s position. Initial eligibility for these data-driven specialties required a hospital to meet any of three standards, including membership in the Council for Teaching Hospitals, affiliation with a medical school, or availability of at least nine out of 18 key technologies such as shaped-beam radiation or advanced cancer therapy. This year, less than a third of all hospitals qualified.
U.S.News & World Report’s 2006 “America’s Best Hospitals” report was featured in July 10 issue.
