U.S. News ranks WVU Hospitals #1 in West Virginia

Magazine recognizes WVUH as high-performing in 12 specialties

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Hospitals has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in West Virginia by “U.S. News & World Report.” The national magazine today released its annual Best Hospitals rankings, listing WVUH as high-performing in 12 medical specialties.

In addition to the state ranking, WVU Hospitals was recognized as a Best Regional Hospital and high-performing in cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; geriatrics; gynecology; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopaedics; pulmonology; and urology.

“It’s always great to be recognized, but this ranking is especially gratifying because it’s based on real numbers,” Bruce McClymonds, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals, said. “The rankings represent positive outcomes for our patients and the extraordinary care provided here by our physicians, nurses and other health professionals.”

This year’s “Best Hospitals 2012-13” showcases more than 720 of the nation’s roughly 5,000 hospitals. This is the first year that the publication has ranked hospitals within most states and recognized high-performing hospitals outside metro areas as Best Regional Hospitals in their respective regions.

The hospital rankings are like a GPS-type aid to help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges, according to U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow.

“All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care,” Comarow said. “They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases.”

Nearly 30,000 patients from throughout the state and the surrounding area are cared for each year at WVU Hospitals’ Ruby Memorial, and that number continues to grow. WVUH recently announced plans to add a new 10-story patient care tower to meet the ever-increasing demand for care. WVU Hospitals is part of WVU Healthcare, the entity that is comprised of the teaching hospitals and clinics for West Virginia University’s health professions schools. It includes a Level I Trauma Center, WVU Children’s Hospital and the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.

The rankings were published by U.S. News in collaboration with RTI International, a research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Highlights of the 2012-13 rankings will appear in the “U.S. News Best Hospitals 2012-13” guidebook, to go on sale in August.

The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.