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Seven specialties at UNC Hospitals ranked among nation's best by U.S.News & World Report
CHAPEL HILL -- Seven medical specialties offered at the University of North Carolina Hospitals rank among the top 50 programs of their kind nationwide, reports the July 17 issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine.
July 7, 2006
Seven specialties at UNC Hospitals ranked among nation's best by U.S.News & World Report
CHAPEL HILL -- Seven medical specialties offered at the University of North Carolina Hospitals rank among the top 50 programs of their kind nationwide, reports U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" issue of July 17.
"A year ago we launched an additional mission at UNC Health Care -- to become the nation's No. 1 public academic medical institution," said Dr. William L. Roper, dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and chief executive officer of the UNC Health Care System.
"I think the positive movement in these rankings is indicative of our progress in this long-term process," Roper said. "We do tremendous work here in our efforts to lead in health care, teach doctors and care for patients, and our excellence is becoming more and more known nationally. The U.S.News & World Report rankings are an important measurement tool, and once again we have placed quite well. I'm very pleased with our showing this year."
According to U.S. News, only 176 hospitals nationwide out of 5,189 that were evaluated "scored high enough this year in such measures of quality as mortality and patient volume to be ranked in any specialty."
To be eligible for ranking, hospitals had to meet any of three standards: membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals, affiliation with a medical school, or availability of at least nine out of 18 key technologies like shaped beam radiation, an advanced cancer therapy. This year, fewer than a third of the hospitals qualified.
The UNC Hospitals programs, and their top-50 rankings, are:
* Cancer, 41
* Digestive Disorders, 26
* Ear, Nose & Throat, 18
* Gynecology, 16
* Kidney Disease, 29
* Urology, 32
* Psychiatry, 22
The magazine unveiled the rankings today (Friday, July 7) for its 17th annual "America's Best Hospitals" issue, which will appear on newsstands July 11. UNC Hospitals has been included in the rankings for the last 14 years in a row.
What follows are brief descriptions of each of UNC's ranked programs.
CANCER (ranked 40):
Cancer care at UNC is coordinated through the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, which was established in 1975 and is headed by Dr. Shelton Earp. It is one of 40 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only eight Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in breast cancer in the United States.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS (ranked 26):
UNC's Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, headed by Dr. Robert Sandler, provides highly specialized, compassionate care for patients with gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional diseases. The division is a national leader in research initiatives that further our understanding of complex disease processes and lead to innovative therapeutics.
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ranked 18):
The Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, headed by Dr. Harold C. Pillsbury III, has a long history of excellence dating back to the opening of N.C. Memorial Hospital in 1952. In recent years the department has become known as a leader in cochlear implant surgery, which enables many deaf people to regain a functional level of hearing.
GYNECOLOGY (ranked 14):
Gynecology services at UNC Hospitals are housed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, headed by Dr. Daniel Clarke-Pearson. The department is known as a leader in areas such as advanced laparoscopy and gynecologic surgery, treatment of gynecologic cancers and maternal-fetal medicine.
KIDNEY DISEASE (ranked 29):
Patients with kidney problems receive excellent care through UNC's Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, headed by Dr. Ronald Falk. Care for kidney patients is provided in seven outpatient clinics, plus the UNC Hospitals kidney and kidney transplant wards and community-based dialysis units in Burlington, Carrboro, Sanford, Siler City, Yanceyville and Pittsboro.
UROLOGY (ranked 31):
Urology services at UNC are provided by the Division of Urologic Surgery, headed by Dr. Culley Carson. The division's faculty have expertise in all areas of clinical urology, and combine up-to-date knowledge of cutting-edge therapies with a solid understanding of standard practices.
PSYCHIATRY (ranked 22):
UNC's Department of Psychiatry, headed by Dr. David Rubinow, integrates state-of-the-art biological, psychological, and social approaches in the care of patients and their families. The department houses the only comprehensive eating disorders program in the Southeast, and is known as a research leader in areas such as depression and schizophrenia.
ABOUT UNC HEALTH CARE
The UNC Health Care System is a not-for-profit integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide state-of-the-art patient care. UNC Health Care is comprised of UNC Hospitals, ranked consistently among the best medical centers in the country; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution; community practices; home health and hospice services in seven central North Carolina counties; and Rex Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County.