Contacts:
Rashel Stephenson

July 9, 1999
National Ranking Names Emory University Hospital Among America's Best Hospitals

ATLANTA -- U.S. News and World Report today named Emory University Hospital one of America's Best Hospitals in 10 of 16 medical specialties: cardiology (8th), ophthalmology (10th), orthopedics (22nd), neurology and neurosurgery (16th), urology (17th), geriatrics (39th), gynecology (31st), gastroenterology (28th), otolaryngology (47th) and cancer (27th). Crawford Long Hospital of Emory University was named 39th in hormonal disorders. The rankings will be published in the magazine the week of July 12.

John D. Henry Sr., FACHE, chief executive officer for Crawford Long and Emory University hospitals, says, "These rankings, as well as recognition from other organizations, reinforce the very high caliber of our hospitals and health care teams -- teams which include physicians, nursing staff, therapists, technicians, educators and dieticians. While we're continually known for cardiology services, this survey helps us publicly acknowledge our strength in a host of other areas."

The America's Best Hospitals ranks the top 50 hospitals in 16 specialties, and gives data on 188 hospitals to consumers who seek maximum care in the diagnosis, treatment and management of difficult medical problems. In 12 of the 16 specialties, hospitals were evaluated using a model that combines reputation among specialists with death rates and a collection of other measures that physicians and social-science researchers believe reflects quality of care, according to U.S. News and World Report. The remaining four specialties, such as ophthalmology, are ranked by reputation alone because mortality data are unavailable or are unrelated to treatment.

"Outstanding recognition for our clinical services also speaks well for our research and medical teaching missions; improving human health is, after all, at the very core all activities at the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center," says Michael M. E. Johns, M.D., Emory's executive vice president for Health Affairs and chief executive officer of EMORY HEALTHCARE. "Ever-mindful of improving patient care, we've set into motion strategic plans for the new millennium which we fully expect to place us higher in reputation rankings such as those published this week."

The Emory Hospital cardiology program, ranked eighth, has been recognized as one of the top 10 programs ever since the magazine began ranking hospitals in 1990. This year, Emory was the only Georgia hospital and one of just two in the Southeast to be ranked in the top 10 in cardiology.

"We are pleased with and proud of our consistently high placement in this survey," says Douglas Morris, M.D., chief of cardiology for Emory Hospitals. "One of our biggest strengths is the availability of such a diverse team of Emory experts who represent every subspecialty in heart disease.

"Our medical team also recognizes the importance of being located in a dynamic city which strives for excellence in all endeavors. Emory has long been held in high esteem in our community and throughout the country and we're proud to bring Atlanta to the forefront of distinguished health care," Dr. Morris says.

Emory Hospitals include Emory University Hospital, a 587-bed hospital located on the Emory University campus in northeast Atlanta, and Crawford Long Hospital, Emory's 583-bed, community-based hospital in midtown. Emory Hospitals are components of EMORY HEALTHCARE, the most comprehensive health care system in Atlanta. Other components of EMORY HEALTHCARE are: The Emory Clinic, Emory Children's Center, Wesley Woods Center, the jointly owned Emory-Adventist Hospital, and EHCA, LLC, a limited liability company created in collaboration with Columbia/HCA.

In 1998, Emory and Crawford Long hospitals, as well as the Hospitals Network, earned Accreditation with Commendation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The highest award given to hospitals, the Accreditations were earned after rigorous surveys in which administrative, clinical and operational aspects of each hospital were closely examined.

 

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