U.S. News and World Report ranks Winship’s cancer care at Emory University Hospital as number one in Georgia and metro Atlanta.
U.S. News & World Report’s much-anticipated list of the best hospitals in the United States classifies cancer care provided by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University at Emory University Hospital as among the most “high performing” 10% of hospitals providing cancer care nationwide —and as number one in Georgia and metro Atlanta.
For the thirteenth year in a row, the national news outlet has ranked Emory University Hospital the No. 1 hospital in Georgia and metro Atlanta in the regional rankings. Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital ranked No. 2 in Georgia and metro Atlanta for the eighth consecutive year, while Emory Johns Creek Hospital ranked No. 8 for a fourth year in a row in Georgia and No. 7 in metro Atlanta rankings, and Emory University Hospital Midtown ranked No. 9 in Georgia and No. 8 in metro Atlanta.
“We are happy to receive the top rank for cancer care in Georgia,” says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, Winship’s executive director and Roberto C. Goizueta Chair for Cancer Research in Emory University School of Medicine. “As Georgia’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we are proud of the role Winship plays in delivering world-class cancer care and innovating new advances to improve patient outcomes.”
“We are pleased that Winship once again has been recognized as one of the country’s top centers for cancer care and remains the best in the state of Georgia,” says Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, Winship’s chief medical officer and professor and chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. “This ranking is a mark of the physicians and nurses, researchers and others on our team who also rank among the best in their fields and place patients at the center of all we do.”
The Best Hospitals rankings are broken into two subcomponents – specialty rankings and procedure and condition ratings. “Understanding which is more relevant to you depends on the medical condition for which you’re seeking hospital quality information,” says the magazine. “The Best Hospitals specialty rankings are meant for patients with life-threatening or rare conditions who need a hospital that excels in treating complex, high-risk cases. These rankings are helpful if you’re looking for information about a rare condition or difficult diagnosis that isn’t treated at many facilities.”
How rankings are determined
The magazine explains that in its list, “cancer ratings are based on analysis of factors such as patient outcomes in the medical and surgical treatment of cancer, volume of high-risk patients, patient experience, nurse staffing and advanced clinical technologies.”
Winship’s record of discharging patients to home rather than to another facility, use of advanced technologies and patient services are considered “excellent.” Winship has a “very high” number of patients, says the magazine, noting that higher volume is associated with better outcomes.
Background on the rankings
U.S. News & World Report began publishing hospital rankings in 1990, as “America’s Best Hospitals,” to identify medical centers in various specialties that were best suited for patients.
whose illnesses pose unusual challenges because of underlying conditions, procedure difficulty, advanced age or other medical issues that add risk. Hospitals are assessed in 15 specialty areas for the rankings.
In 12 of the 15 specialties, ranking is determined by an extensive data-driven analysis combining performance measures in three primary dimensions of health care: structure, process and outcomes. In the three other specialties, ranking relies solely on expert opinion. Nearly 5,000 hospitals are evaluated each year.
U.S. News & World Report first published Best Regional Hospitals in 2011. Within a state or major metropolitan area, regional hospital rank is determined by a hospital's performance in the national adult specialty rankings analysis and by its scores across 20 procedure and condition areas evaluated.