U.S. News Media Group Releases List of 'Top Doctors'

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News Media Group today announced U.S. News Top Doctors, a free searchable directory available at www.usnews.com/top-doctors that lists nearly 30,000 peer-nominated physicians across the country.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100603/PH13717LOGO )

U.S. News Top Doctors was created in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., publisher of America's Top Doctors and other consumer health guides. It draws from Castle Connolly's database of Top Doctors, all recommended for their clinical skills by other doctors and individually vetted by a physician-led research team. Consumers can search for a Top Doctor by location, hospital affiliation, and a full range of specialties and subspecialties.

U.S. News Top Doctors builds on the Best Hospitals rankings, which U.S. News updated last week. Health consumers can now see which Top Doctors practice at the 700-plus hospitals in the 22nd annual rankings by visiting www.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

"For decades, the Best Hospitals rankings have helped guide patients who need an especially high level of care to hospitals that excel in providing it," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. "Top Doctors has a similar mission. We want to help consumers find the doctors in their area who come highly recommended by other physicians."

Castle Connolly assembled the roster of Top Doctors by soliciting nominations from physicians in academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, and regional hospitals and physicians in private practice. Its research team then reviewed each nominee's training, achievements, and appointments, among other credentials.

"We believe this brings important information on excellent physicians directly into the hands of consumers," said Dr. John J. Connolly, President and CEO of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. "Given the unsettled future of the delivery and financing of healthcare and the changing nature of physician practices, it is critical that consumers have trusted sources of high-quality information about both doctors and hospitals."

About the U.S. News Media Group

The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

About Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a healthcare research, information, and publishing company, has been America's trusted source for identifying top doctors for 20 years.  The company publishes the consumer guides America's Top Doctors®, America's Top Doctors® for Cancer, Top Doctors: New York Metro Area and other consumer guides.  Founded in 1991 by two respected leaders in healthcare, John K. Castle (Chairman) and John J. Connolly, Ed. D., (President and CEO), who served as board chairman and president, respectively, of New York Medical College.  Its mission is to help consumers find the best healthcare through their guides, their website, and various consumer and business-oriented print and online partnerships. Castle Connolly's valuable Top Doctors information can also be accessed online at www.castleconnolly.com and on other affiliated websites. Castle Connolly's social media outlets can be found at www.facebook.com/TopDoctors  and www.twitter.com/castleconnolly.  

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report