U.S. NEWS RANKS MERCY GILBERT MEDICAL CENTER HIGH-PERFORMING IN EAR, NOSE & THROAT, GASTROENTEROLOGY, NEPHROLOGY AND PULMONOLOGY 22nd annual rankings recognize hospitals in 94 metro areas and 16 specialties
GILBERT, ARIZ. (July 26, 2011) – Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, a member of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), has been ranked high-performing in Ear, Nose & Throat, Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Pulmonology in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings, available online at
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.
"We are proud of the quality medical care we provide our patients, and are happy to be recognized in four specialty areas," said Tim Bricker, president and CEO of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. "U.S. News Media & World Report also ranked Mercy Gilbert No. 9 for hospitals in the Phoenix-metro area."
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
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.
