VCU news

By Laura Rossacher

U.S. News & World Report has recognized VCU Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in the Richmond metro area for the eighth consecutive year, and as the No. 2 hospital in Virginia for 2018-19. VCU Medical Center also ranks among the top 50 in the country for urology, nephrology, orthopedics, and diabetes and endocrinology, increasing the number of nationally recognized specialties at the academic medical center from two to four compared to last year.

“As a comprehensive academic medical center and the region’s only Level I trauma center, our team members excel in providing care for the most complex patient conditions every day,” said Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO of VCU Health System and vice president for health sciences at VCU. “Every public recognition is a testament of their devotion to outstanding clinical care, research and teaching, and affirms that we are well on our way to becoming one of the premier academic health systems in the country.”

U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide, and ranked 158 of them in one or more specialty areas for 2018-19. VCU Medical Center ranked No. 20 for urology, No. 25 for diabetes and endocrinology, No. 34 for orthopedics and tied at No. 32 for nephrology. The report evaluates hospital performance in 16 specialty areas, and focuses on identifying hospitals that “excel in treating particularly difficult patients,” according to U.S. News.

For 2018-19, VCU Medical Center was identified as high performing in cardiology and heart surgery, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, and pulmonology. U.S. News designates “high-performing” specialty areas as close to ranking among top 50 in the country.

“We are proud and humbled to have the opportunity to provide extraordinary care to all people in the commonwealth,” said Deborah Davis, CEO of VCU Hospitals and Clinics at VCU Health System. “As the region’s largest safety-net provider, people from all walks of life turn to us for the highest quality care.”

U.S. News & World Report also ranks procedures and conditions, aiming to provide patients with a guide to identify hospitals that best meet their needs in treating challenging inpatient diagnoses. For 2018-19, VCU Medical Center is rated as high performing in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, heart failure, lung and colon cancer surgery, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment.

Now in its 28th year, the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings help guide patients to hospitals that deliver outstanding care across specialty areas, procedures and conditions. The publication’s methodologies include an expert opinion component, as well as objective measures such as patient survival rates and the number of times a procedure is performed. Hospitalwide infection rates and adequacy of nurse staffing are also included in the analysis.

The Best Hospitals rankings were produced by U.S. News & World Report with the support of RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.