UCSF Medical Center ranked among top 10 "Best Hospitals" in nation

By Vanessa deGier

For the seventh consecutive year, UCSF Medical Center ranks among the nation’s top 10 premier hospitals, according to the new 2007 “America’s Best Hospitals” survey by “US News & World Report.”  This year the survey ranked the Medical Center number 7.

US News reviewed 5,462 hospitals to produce a list of 173 “best” hospitals.  The survey identifies medical centers that take on and “excel at treating a variety of demanding illnesses and procedures,” according to the magazine.  Hospitals that make the list follow—and often pioneer—new treatment guidelines, conduct bench-to-bedside research and exploit the latest advances in imaging, surgical devices and other technologies.

“UCSF’s mission is advancing health worldwide, and this ranking reaffirms that our medical center is meeting the needs of the most medically complex patients,” said UCSF Medical Center CEO Mark Laret.  “We are now working to build a new hospital, located at Mission Bay that will allow us to double our capacity to treat patients from our region and around the world.”

US News evaluated 16 specialties in this year’s report.  In seven specialties, UCSF placed among the top 10 medical centers.  These specialties are endocrinology, gynecology, neurology and neurosurgery, ophthalmology, respiratory disorders, rheumatology and urology.  US News did not include pediatrics in the current report but plans to release information on this specialty in the fall. 

The survey methodology is based on a series of factors, including hard data, reputation (physician surveys), death rate and care-related factors such as nursing and availability of advanced and technological services. 
UCSF Medical Center is recognized throughout the world as a leading academic medical center that provides innovative treatments, uses advanced technology, and fosters collaboration among clinicians and scientists. 

“UCSF is proud of this ranking and remains dedicated to clinical excellence and putting patients first,” added Laret.

Results of the US News 18th annual survey appear in the upcoming July 23 issue of the magazine and on the magazine website at USNews.com. 

US News & World Report’s top honor roll:

1. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

3. UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles

4. Cleveland Clinic

5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

6. New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell

7. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

7. Duke University Medical Center, Durham. N.C.

9. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University, St. Louis

10. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston

11. University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle

12. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

13. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

14. University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Ann Arbor

15. Stanford Hospital and Clinics

15. Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.

17. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

17. University of Chicago Medical Center

UCSF Medical Center’s top 10 medical specialties ranking:

Endocrinology: 4

Gynecology: 6

Neurology & Neurosurgery: 5

Respiratory Disorders: 9

Urology: 8

Ophthalmology: 9

Rheumatology: 9