For the fourth consecutive year, the Erlanger Health System has been named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report in the publication’s 2014-15 Top Hospitals edition.
Erlanger was named “Best Hospital by Metro Area,” and ranked in the top 10 ”Best Hospitals in Tennessee.” Erlanger was also the only local hospital to be recognized for the high performing specialty of nephrology. With the only kidney transplant program in the region, Erlanger is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the program this year.
“As the region’s only academic teaching hospital and Level One Trauma Center, we are extremely pleased to have earned this national recognition from U.S. News & World Report for the fourth straight year,” said Erlanger President and CEO, Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE. “It’s a notable tribute to Erlanger’s capabilities and service to the region, coming on top of numerous top-tier certifications that we’ve earned this year.”
In 2014, Erlanger has earned the highest level of certification as an accredited Chest Pain Center and as a Regional Comprehensive Stroke Center. The 10th largest public health care system in the United States, Erlanger also earned a three-year accreditation by The Joint Commission.
In making the announcement, U.S. News & World Report rankings editor Avery Comarow said, "The Best Hospitals rankings are intended to help patients with life-threatening or rare conditions identify hospitals that excel in treating the most difficult cases.”
The 25th edition of U.S. News and World Report showcases the best of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals. Methodology for rating hospitals includes data that is publicly available and less subjective, such as information collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Compare). This year, the publication added new data and placed greater emphasis on patient safety. Metrics for patient safety now account for 10 percent of each hospital’s overall score, twice as much as in past years.
Other criteria used in the U.S. News & World Report ratings include risk-adjusted survival rates, adequacy of nurse staffing, patient volume, and responses from medical specialists to opinion surveys.
Highlights of the newest rankings will appear in U.S. News Best Hospitals 2015 guidebook, to go on sale in August.