Saint Joseph Hospital Rated Top Chicago Hospital in U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital Rankings

Hospital ranks 15th out of more than 200 Chicago hospitals

CHICAGO, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saint Joseph Hospital has been ranked amongst the top hospitals in Chicago, in U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals metro area rankings, available online at www.usnews.com/hospitals.

The new rankings recognize 622 hospitals in or near major cities with a record of high performance in key medical specialties, including 132 of the 152 hospitals already identified as the best in the nation. There are nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Saint Joseph Hospital ranked 15th among more than 200 hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area, 46 of which were featured on the list.

Saint Joseph Hospital is led by Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., "We're thrilled to be ranked in the top quartile of the nation for treating diseases that many Americans have," said Luskin-Hawk, "To be rated 15th out of more than 200 hospitals is truly an honor."

The hospital ranked as a high performer for cancer care, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, kidney disorders, neurology, and neurosurgery. "We believe that we offer patients high quality medical care in a very personal setting. Our physicians are exceptional, we have excellent technologies, and we have a very dedicated staff," Luskin-Hawk said.  "It's a team effort."

The new metro area rankings are relevant to a much wider range of healthcare consumers. They are aimed primarily at consumers whose care may not demand the highly specialized services, like vital organ transplantation, which can be found only at large, academic medical centers ranked as a "Best Hospital" by U.S. News and World Report. 

Saint Joseph Hospital can't be underestimated by the academic medical centers, however. Recently the hospital and one of its surgeons, McKay McKinnon, were featured in a national, one-hour documentary, "The Man Who Lost His Face," on the TLC Channel. The documentary followed a 51-year old patient whose life was saved when McKinnon, in a first-ever surgery worldwide, was able to remove a 12-lb vascular malformation from the man's face. Before meeting with McKinnon and other physicians at Saint Joseph Hospital, the patient was not able to find a surgeon willing or able to perform the surgery.

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. Saint Joseph Hospital ranked in six specialties. "Again, we are thrilled," said Luskin-Hawk. "We feel like we're a best-kept secret and it's time to share the news!"

"All of these hospitals provide first-rate care for the majority of patients, even those with serious conditions or who need demanding procedures," says Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. "The new Best Hospitals metro rankings can tell you which hospitals are worth considering for most medical problems if you live in or near a major metro area."

All hospitals that ranked in Chicago are listed on this link: http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/chicago-il/specialty.  For the full list of metro area rankings throughout the United States, visit www.usnews.com/hospitals.

Media Contact: Margo Schafer, 773-665-3000

About Saint Joseph Hospital

Saint Joseph Hospital is a nationally ranked, award-winning teaching hospital serving Chicago's lake shore communities. The hospital ranks among the top 5 percent in the nation for overall clinical quality and received HealthGrades' Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ and Patient Safety™ three years in a row. It is home to many world-renowned physicians and advanced medical technologies. For more information, visit sjh.reshealth.org.

About Resurrection Health Care

Saint Joseph Hospital is a part of Resurrection Health Care, a family of health care services providing advanced medical care and exceptional customer service with compassion and hope.  Our hospitals, nursing homes, retirement communities, home health services, behavioral health programs, and other services are conveniently located in many Chicago and suburban neighborhoods.  Resurrection Health Care is a not-for-profit Catholic organization sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and the Sisters of the Resurrection.

SOURCE Saint Joseph Hospital