UC Irvine Medical Center on ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ list for 11th consecutive year

For the 11th consecutive year, UC Irvine Medical Center has been ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. It’s listed 28th for gynecology, 30th for urology and 50th for cancer and kidney disorders. The annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue hits newsstands Aug. 30 and is currently available online.

“UC Irvine is proud of its medical leadership in Orange County, and we’re honored to be recognized for continued excellence in research and patient care,” said Terry A. Belmont, CEO of the medical center. “Our commitment to the community is reflected in the dedication of our medical faculty, nurses and staff to providing high-quality healthcare and the best patient experience available.”

UC Irvine is the only Orange County medical center consistently rated one of America’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Since 2001, the magazine has recognized its urology, gynecology, geriatrics, cancer, digestive disorders, kidney disease, and ear, nose & throat programs.

“These ratings are more proof of the top-notch care and the quality of our medical faculty at UC Irvine,” said Dr. Ralph V. Clayman, dean of the medical school and professor of urology. “We have more of Orange County’s best doctors, and our patients have access to the best treatments, such as at our new Robotic Oncology Center and in innovative clinical trials for cancer care.”

UC Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of just 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. and the only one in Orange County.

In March, U.S. News & World Report released regional hospital rankings online, and these will be included in the Aug. 30 print edition. UC Irvine is listed as Orange County’s top hospital and fourth-best among Los Angeles-area medical centers. The publication cites its excellence in eight specialties.

For the 2011 “America’s Best Hospitals” ratings, U.S. News & World Report evaluated 4,825 medical centers nationwide and ranked 140 of them, or 2.9 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 nursing Magnet status or designation as a Level I trauma center – both of which apply to UC Irvine Medical Center.

About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new, 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine for 11 consecutive years on its “America’s Best Hospitals” list, giving special recognition to its programs in gynecology, urology, cancer and kidney disorders.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s largest employer, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.

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