UCLA medical center ranked third in nation
By Roscoe Elliott
July 27, 2008 9:53 p.m.
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center was ranked third in the nation, and for the 19th consecutive year, the best in the western United States by U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of “America’s Best Hospitals” in its July 21 issue.
The study looked at hospitals’ ability to offer exceptional care.
The report analyzed data from over 5,000 hospitals in 16 specialties and based its list on a random sampling of physicians, mortality statistics and other factors, such as staffing and available technologies.
UCLA ranked at, or close to, the top of the list in 14 of the 16 specialities and received the No. 1 ranking for geriatric care.
The Mattel Children’s Hospital also ranked in the top 20 for five out of seven pediatric specialties.
The high marks in a variety of fields put UCLA third on the “Honor Roll,” a select group of 19 hospitals.
John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland and the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
UCLA has consistently maintained a high standard for patient care.
This year, doctors have also been aided by the construction of a new center that offers innovative medical advances while taking into account patients’ surroundings.
The new Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center opened less than a month ago.
Architects I.M. Pei and C.C. Pei incorporated architectural aspects, such as open spaces and natural lighting, to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere for patients to recover in during treatment.
The center is a nonprofit that serves as the primary teaching hospital for the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
Along with UCLA, five other hospitals within the University of California system were named, including UC San Francisco at No. 7, and UC San Diego and UC Irvine within the top 50.
