U.S. News & World Report Names LLUMC No. 1 Hospital in IE, Ranks Gynecology Program ‘Among the Best’ in Nation

A specialty program at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) has been ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The Gynecology program at LLUMC was ranked No. 47 in the country by U.S. News & World Report, which, for the fourth year in a row, also ranked LLUMC the No. 1 hospital in Southern California’s Inland Empire (Riverside–San Bernardino metro area) for 2013–2014. The last time a specialty at LLUMC was ranked nationally was in 2008, when the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, & Facial Plastic Surgery was recognized among the top programs in the nation. The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 24th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients. “We are very proud and honored for our gynecology program to be ranked among the best in the nation and for Loma Linda University Medical Center to once again be named the best hospital in the Inland Empire,” said LLUMC CEO Ruthita J. Fike. “These honors are very much valued by our organization because they reflect the commitment, hard work, and clinical expertise of thousands of physicians, nurses, and staff, all dedicated to upholding our mission of continuing the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” she said. "We are deeply honored to be nationally ranked for the provision of high-quality gynecologic care,” stated Dr. Ron Swensen, chairman of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at LLUMC. “This reflects the expertise of the entire team: doctors, nurses and ancillary personnel, all working toward a superior patient experience. We thank our patients for their trust in us." He noted that among the noteworthy services offered at the department include minimally invasive and robotic surgery, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery options, comprehensive gynecologic oncology and infertility services, as well as a Perinatology Institute for high-risk pregnancies. U.S. News ranks LLUMC No. 13 in California, improving from No. 18 in 2012–2013. LLUMC was cited for 11 specialty programs. Aside from giving the Gynecology program national ranking, U.S. News cited the following “high performing” specialties of the hospital: Cancer; Cardiology and Heart Surgery; Diabetes and Endocrinology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Gastroenterology and GI Surgery; Geriatrics; Nephrology; Orthopedics; Pulmonology; and Urology. U.S. News evaluates hospitals in 16 adult specialties. In most specialties, it ranks the nation’s top 50 hospitals and recognizes other high-performing hospitals that provide care at nearly the level of their nationally ranked peers. “A hospital that emerges from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. “Only about 15 percent of hospitals are recognized for their high performance as among their region’s best. Just 3 percent of all hospitals earn a national ranking in any specialty.” U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age. Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse staffing levels and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties. The specialty rankings and data were produced for U.S. News by RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Using the same data, U.S. News produced the state and metro rankings. The rankings have been published at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals and will appear in print in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2014 guidebook, available in bookstores and on newsstands August 27.