U.S. News Ranks Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital #38 Nationally in Orthopaedics, #1 in Omaha/Council Bluffs.

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

Washington D.C. – July 19, 2011 – Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital has been ranked #38 nationally for orthopaedics in U.S. News Media & World Report’s 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings, available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals. In addition, the hospital was ranked #1 for orthopaedics in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area. 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 August 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.

“We are honored to be named the nation’s 38th best hospital for orthopaedics,” said Tom Macy, Chief Executive Officer for Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital. “This recognition, two years running, is an extension of our commitment to be a leader in orthopaedic care,” added Macy.

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.