MUSC was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the country’s best hospitals in the treatment of digestive disorders; kidney disease; ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders; gynecology; respiratory disorders; and rheuma-tology.
 
This marks the 13th consecutive year that gastrointestinal disorders has made the list. The rankings will be published in the America’s Best Hospitals issue of the magazine that is available on newsstands July 21.
 
“We are pleased that previously ranked programs have moved up in their fields and several additional areas were recognized this year,” said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. “The selection of six different specialty areas is a great tribute not only to these particular physicians, but to the growing national reputation of the Medical University. South Carolinians can be assured that the care that they receive here ranks among the best anywhere.”
 
Now in its 20th year, America’s Best Hospitals guide is the most extensive hospital ranking to-date. The magazine has identified medical centers with distinctive capabilities in specific clinical specialties. Rankings and eligibility may be viewed at http://www.usnews.com.
 
The rankings are predominantly driven by hard data. Components include reputation, death rate, patient safety (new this year), and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.

Gastrointestinal disorders rank 20th in the nation
Includes the MUSC Digestive Disease Center (DDC), the Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Surgery.
 
“The highest level of patient quality care, innovative approaches to diseases and a superb faculty and employees have combined to make us one of the premier digestive disease programs in the country,” said Mark DeLegge, M.D., MUSC DDC medical director.

Kidney disease moves up in rankings
MUSC Nephrology marks its second appearance within the best hospital rankings.
 
“This is outstanding news,” said David Ploth, M.D., Nephrology director. “Our research faculty contribute in a huge way by enhancing our national academic image in the research arena. It is outstanding that we achieved inclusion on the list, and especially that we improved from 43 to 35 in one year. The competition is very strong and among the same group of excellent institutions that we compete with for fellow trainees and grant funding.”

ENT, gynecology rank for the first time
“We are most pleased to be recognized as one of the premier departments of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery in the country,” said Paul Lambert, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery director. “We take great pride in our outstanding clinical and research faculty who provide exceptional patient care and are making important discoveries relating to hearing loss, cancer, voice and swallowing disorders, and sinusitis.”
 
“The department is indeed proud to be recognized as having one of the top gynecology programs in the country,” said  J. Peter Van Dorsten, M.D., Lawrence L. Hester Jr. professor and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Under the direction of Dr. David Soper, vice-chairman of clinical affairs and division director of Gynecology, our gynecologists have focused on patient-centered care. This concept matches the best treatment, whether medical or surgical, to each individual patient.”

Respiratory disorders rank again
“Our physicians and health care staff are very gratified to be recognized for our expertise and experience in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic diseases of the chest, sleep disordered breathing, and allergic diseases,” said Steven Sahn, M.D., Division of Pulmonary Medicine director. “This reflects the type of excellent care being offered across the board to our patients at MUSC. Our division has a large national number of faculty who are recognized nationally and internationally in virtually all of the sub-specialties of pulmonary medicine.”

Rheumatology’s reputation receives special distinction
In a special category based solely on national reputation, MUSC’s Rheumatology division moved up three slots and placed 16th.
 
“Our physicians and scientists have garnered an international reputation for their work on scleroderma, lupus and other rheumatic diseases, so to rank No. 16 on the U.S. News & World Report’s list is a credit to them,” said Richard M. Silver, M.D., Distinguished University Professor and director of the division. “It is gratifying to be recognized by one’s peers for the expertise we provide in caring for patients with the most serious or difficult medical problems associated with rheumatology.”

Friday, July 24, 2009