Best hospital in America

For the 14^th consecutive year, The Johns Hopkins Hospital has topped U.S. News & World Report's rankings of American hospitals.

This year's annual guide reports results of a survey of a hospital's reputation in 17 medical specialties among a national sample of doctors, along with analysis of objective indicators such as death rates, technology, nurse staffing, service mix and discharge planning.

Hopkins again ranked in the top 10 in 16 of the 17 specialty categories listed.

In addition to landing at the top of the honor roll, the Hospital ranked:

• 1^th in Gynecology, Otolaryngology and Urology;
• 2^nd in Geriatrics, Kidney Disease, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Rheumatology;
• 3^rd in Cancer, Digestive Disorders, Hormonal Disorders, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Respiratory Disorders;
• 4^th in Heart/Heart Surgery and Orthopedics; and #13 in Rehabilitation

For a complete list of all rankings, go to http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org, or to the U.S. News & World Report Web site at http://www.usnews.com.

In a letter announcing the rankings to all employees, Johns Hopkins Medicine Dean/CEO Edward D. Miller, M.D., and Ronald R. Peterson, president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, said the recognition is "especially welcome as we labor to build, renew, enrich and expand our services, facilities and safety initiatives." And they again emphasized to all faculty and staff that "neither your contributions nor the magazine's recognition of your commitment is taken for granted."

"While we say it so often, it is still true that this is really a tribute to our Hospital, its wonderful nurses and staff, the School of Medicine's faculty physicians and the many community physicians with whom we have close ties," they added. "It is a worthy acknowledgment of the innovative and compassionate patient care that is Hopkins's hallmark -- and of the people who make that kind of care possible."

Miller and Peterson also commented that "such independent evaluations as these rankings are of growing value to patients, the public, referring physicians and insurers."

Finally, they noted once again that "our presence on the list puts us in great company, and we congratulate all of the medical centers on the magazine's honor roll."

Because so many employees will be away for the holiday weekend, Miller and Peterson, along with other executives and faculty, will personally hand out "thank you" gifts to all incoming shifts on Wednesday, July 7.

Coming 2^nd on the honor roll was the Mayo Clinic. Rounding out the Honor Roll list, in rank order, are Massachusetts General Hospital; Cleveland Clinic; UCLA Medical Center; Duke University Medical Center and University of California San Francisco (tie); Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis; New York-Presbyterian Hospital and University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle (tie); University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Stanford Hospital and Clinics.