If you were checking this week’s issue of U.S. News & World Report for the “Best Hospitals” list, you’ll have to come back next week.
The list was originally to have been released Aug. 1, but the magazine put out an announcement July 17 that its Best Hospitals issue would be delayed for seven days. This was due to a “problem in the data analysis that affects the 12 data-driven specialty rankings” at the core of the list. Previously in July, several methodology changes in how the report calculates hospital quality were announced. The data glitch was discovered when hospitals were provided an advance preview of the rankings on July 11.
In the last several years, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson has consistently ranked No. 1 in the Tucson Metropolitan Area and Southern Arizona, No. 3 in the state and had one or two subspecialties from the Department of Medicine rank in the top 50 nationwide in the quality of patient care provided. The current Banner – UMC rankings (and the new ones when released) can be found here.
While there are up to a dozen specialties and subspecialties (also largely divisions in the Department of Medicine) where Banner – UMC places as high-performing annually, the following are those that the hospital ranked in the top 50 nationally in the last decade:
► 2016-17:
- Nephrology – 39th
- Geriatrics – 46th
► 2015-16:
- Geriatrics – 38th
- Nephrology – 41st
- Pulmonary Services – 49th
► 2014-15:
- Geriatrics – 49th
► 2013-14:
- Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology) – 30th
- Geriatrics – 34th
► 2012-13:
- Geriatrics – 33rd
► 2011-12:
- Cardiology & Heart Surgery – 40th
- Geriatrics – 46th
► 2010-11:
- Pulmonology – 48th
► 2009-10:
- Kidney Disorders – 50th
► 2008-09:
- Respiratory Disorders – 34th
- Heart & Heart Surgery – 43rd
- Kidney Disease – 43rd
- Ear, Nose & Throat – 50th
- Geriatric Care – 50th
► 2007-08:
- Heart & Heart Surgery – 29th
- Cancer – 31st
- Geriatrics – 38th
- Respiratory Disorders – 40th
► 2006-07:
- Heart & Heart Surgery – 16th
- Respiratory Disorders – 20th
- Cancer – 22nd
- Neurology & Neurosurgery – 22nd
- Urology – 26th
- Kidney Disease – 39th
- Orthopedics – 41st
- Digestive Disorders – 45th
Links for years above go to PDFs of methodologies used for each Best Hospitals issue. The 2016-17 Best Hospitals rankings were drawn from a universe of 4,667 facilities comparing medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. Out of that, 154 of the nearly 5,000 evaluated U.S. hospitals were ranked in the top 50 in one or more specialties.
To be initially eligible for ranking, a hospital must meet at least one of four conditions: be a teaching hospital, be affiliated with a medical school, have at least 200 beds or have at least 100 beds and offer at least four medical technologies from a list of eight U.S. News deems significant for a Best Hospitals patient population. Eligibility for ranking in a particular specialty requires hospitals to meet a specialty dependent volume/discharge threshold. Setting discharge minimums ensures ranking-eligible hospitals have demonstrable experience in treating a set number of complex cases in a given specialty. A hospital not meeting the minimum requirement in a specialty is still eligible if nominated by at least 1 percent of physicians who respond to the survey.
For how U.S. News & World Reports rates other Banner facilities in Tucson, see the following:
■ Banner – UMC South
■ UA Cancer Center
■ Banner Children's at Diamond Children's Medical Center
ALSO SEE:
“Heard on the Street: Hospital rankings delayed by data glitch” | Rochester, Minn., Post-Bulletin, Posted Aug. 2, 2017
“U.S. News Announces New Publication Date for 2017-18 Best Hospitals” | U.S. News & World Report, Posted July 17, 2017
“US News' hospital rankings to hit Aug. 1: 12 changes made to 2017-18 methodology” | U.S. News & World Report, Posted July 6, 2017
“Once Again, Department of Medicine Leads Way on 'Best Hospital' National Rankings” | Posted Aug. 2, 2016
“Banner University Medical Centers in Phoenix and Tucson named to U.S. News ‘Best Hospital’ ranking” | Posted July 21, 2015
“U.S. News & World Report Names UA Medical Center Among Best in Nation” | UAHS Office of Public Affairs, Posted July 15, 2014
“The University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus Once Again a U.S. News ‘Best Hospital’” | UAHS Office of Public Affairs, Posted July 16, 2013
“The University of Arizona Medical Center is a U.S. News 'Best Hospital'” | UAHS Office of Public Affairs, Posted July 17, 2012
“UMC Ranked Among Nation’s `Best Hospitals’ by U.S. News; Also Rated as Best Hospital in Tucson Metro Area” | UAHS Office of Public Affairs, Posted July 19, 2011