Cleveland Clinic Heart Center Ranked No.1 in Nation for 15th Year in a Row

U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" Survey

For the 15th year in a row, Cleveland Clinic’s cardiac care has ranked as the best in the nation, earning the No. 1 ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 edition of “America’s Best Hospitals.”

Cleveland Clinic placed among the nation’s best hospitals overall, ranking 4th in the country. Twelve Cleveland Clinic programs were listed among the Top 10 in the United States, including seven in the Top 5 and three – digestive disorders, urology, and rheumatology – among the Top 2.

The complete 2009 U.S. News rankings for Cleveland Clinic are:

Cleveland Clinic earned the highest ranking of any Ohio hospital in 14 categories. Overall, the hospital ranked in 15 of the 16 specialty categories listed by U.S. News, none lower than 23rd.

“We are extremely proud of this recognition that reflects the Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to its mission of clinical excellence, medical research, and education,” said Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, M.D., President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic. “This acknowledgement is a result of highly dedicated medical staff and employees who are focused on providing the highest quality of care to our patients.”

Since 1994, no hospital in the country has ranked higher than Cleveland Clinic in cardiac care.

“We are honored to have received a number one ranking in heart care for 15 consecutive years,” said Bruce Lytle, M.D., chairman, Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute. “This is the effort of more than 2,000 employees, who work tirelessly to help our patients through their dedication and knowledge, with a commitment to improvement every day.”

Cleveland Clinic’s cancer care moved up one slot this year to No. 12 in the country -- the best ranking of any cancer hospital in Ohio.

“We are honored to be recognized as the top cancer hospital in Ohio. It demonstrates our unique ability to provide cancer patients with the best possible outcomes, from the most complex to the most common cases,” said Derek Raghavan, M.D., Ph.D., chairman, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. “We’re proud of the decades of research, talented professionals, medical innovations, and supportive patient programs that have brought us to this point.”

Three additional Cleveland Clinic hospitals were ranked on the prestigious list this year:

• Fairview Hospital: respiratory care, 33.
• Hillcrest Hospital: digestive disorders, 41; respiratory care, 41.
• Cleveland Clinic Florida: gynecology, 38.

More than 4,800 hospitals were assessed by U.S. News. Only 174 scored high enough to be ranked in even one category. Of those, just 21 -- including Cleveland Clinic -- qualified for the Honor Roll.

Rankings were based on reputation, death rate, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.

In June, U.S. News & World Report released the 2009 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings. Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital ranked higher in more specialties than any other children’s hospital in northeast Ohio, including a No. 4 national ranking in Neurology & Neurosurgery.

“America’s Best Hospitals” and “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” are available at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and in the August edition
of U.S. News.