For Immediate Release: July 19, 2011

U.S. News Ranks Grady Memorial Hospital in Top 10 Atlanta Hospitals

22nd annual rankings recognize hospitals in 94 metro areas and 16 specialties

Contact: Denise Simpson
Phone: (404) 616-6855
E-mail: dsimpson@gmh.edu

Grady Memorial Hospital has been ranked 9th in Atlanta in U.S. News Media & World Report's 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings, available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals. The rankings, annually published by U.S. News for the past 22 years, will also be featured in the U.S. News Best Hospitals guidebook, which will go on sale Aug. 30.

The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.

"Being ranked again among Atlanta's best clearly establishes Grady as a leader in healthcare and further demonstrates the expertise and commitment of our physicians and staff to quality care," says Pete Correll, chairman of the Grady Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.

The core mission of Best Hospitals is to help guide patients who need an especially high level of care because of a difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age. "These are referral centers where other hospitals send their sickest patients," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. "Hospitals like these are ones you or those close to you should consider when the stakes are high."

Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. The regional rankings are aimed primarily at consumers whose care may not demand the special expertise found only at a nationally ranked Best Hospital or who may not be willing or able to travel long distances for medical care. The U.S. News metro rankings give many such patients and their families more options of hospitals within their community and in their health insurance network.

"These are hospitals we call 'high performers.' They are fully capable of giving most patients first-rate care, even if they have serious conditions or need demanding procedures," Comarow said. "Almost every major metro area has at least one of these hospitals."

Hard numbers stand behind the rankings in most specialties—death rates, patient safety, procedure volume, and other objective data. Responses to a national survey, in which physicians were asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also were factored in.

The rankings cover 16 medical specialties and all 94 metro areas that have at least 500,000 residents and at least one hospital that performed well enough to be ranked.

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Department and Burn Center, Grady has the premier level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady as well.

The Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center , Grady Diabetes Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Avon Breast Health Center are also notable components of the health system. Additionally, Grady's Ponce de Leon Center was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

Other key services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, dedicated 60 Plus services for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center. Nationally ranked in one specialty, Grady was named one of Atlanta's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

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