VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center on Tuesday was ranked 49^th nationally in nephrology in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings.

The announcement comes on the heels of the VCU Medical Center’s recent ranking this past spring as No. 1 hospital in the Richmond metro area in U.S. News and World Report’s first-ever Best Hospitals metro area rankings.

The latest national rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.

VCU’s Division of Nephrology in the Department of Internal Medicine provides specialized care of patients with a variety of kidney disorders and hypertension through clinical inpatient and outpatient services at the VCU Medical Center and the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Earlier this year, the VCU Medical Center achieved the No. 1 spot in the metro area. To be ranked in its metro area, a hospital had to score in the top 25 percent among its peers in at least one of 16 medical specialties. The VCU Medical Center was the only hospital in Richmond whose specialties were ranked by U.S. News. Specifically, the medical center was noted for excellence in cancer treatment, heart and heart surgery programs, its kidney disease program and physical rehabilitation.

According to U.S. News, the core mission of Best Hospitals is to help guide patients who need an especially high level of care because of a difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age.

“These are referral centers where other hospitals send their sickest patients,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News health rankings editor. “Hospitals like these are ones you or those close to you should consider when the stakes are high.”

The rankings are based on such factors as death rates, patient safety, procedure volume and other data. Responses to a national survey, in which physicians were asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also were factored in.

New this year, the VCU Medical Center also was specifically recognized as high-performing in the areas of cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear nose and throat; gastroenterology; geriatrics; gynecology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; rehabilitation; and urology.

Annually published by U.S. News for the past 22 years, the rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and also will be featured in the U.S. News Best Hospitals guidebook, which will be available Aug. 30.