High rankings for orthopedic and cancer specialties

By Patrick McGilvray

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) — The UC Davis Medical Center is considered among America's 50 best hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report. The recognition will be published online on July 15, 2010 as well as in the August print edition.

With more than 5,000 hospitals in contention, the University of California at Davis' specialties of orthopedics and cancer were ranked 35th and 50th respectively.

“We are delighted with this recognition from U.S. News,” commented Ann Rice, the CEO of the UC Davis Medical Center. “It is one of several indicators we use to monitor our ongoing efforts to provide excellent patient care and improve health outcomes for our community, the region and beyond.”

Only two other hospitals in Northern California ranked higher for cancer, the UC San Francisco Medical Center and the Stanford Hospital and clinics.

The director of UC Davis' Cancer Center, Ralph deVere White, said, "We are one of only 65 hospitals in the country with a cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, and have recently expanded our reach through our Cancer Care Network of community hospitals in Truckee, Pleasanton, Merced and Marysville. This recognition represents our national standing as a community resource that is doing all it can to better people’s lives through excellent cancer care.”

UC Davis Medical Center's Excellence in Orthopedics
Joining Davis in the ranks of the top 50 hospitals in the US for orthopedic excellence were UCSF Medical Center, Stanford Hospital and Clinics and John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

According to Dr. Paul DiCesare, medical director and chair of orthopedic surgery at UC Davis, “The UC Davis Department of Orthopedic Surgery is a leader in state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery, research and education, with a world-renowned Level 1 trauma center and a musculoskeletal research center that are among the nation’s most sophisticated and interdisciplinary,” he said. “Our program, encompassing nine sub-specialties, a 24-hour Level 1 Trauma Center and Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, plus access to the latest clinical research trials, ensures one-stop coverage and the best available care.”

The U.S. News and World Report survey also recognized that a 2.8 registered nurses on duty per patient bed ratio was among the highest anywhere in the country.

U.S. News and World Report Hospital Ranking Criteria
The Best Hospitals 2010-11 issue ranks medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties, and examines death rates, volume, balance of nurses and patients, reputation and the availability of medical technology, among other measures.

UC Davis Medical Center is a comprehensive academic medical center where clinical practice, teaching and research converge to advance human health. Centers of excellence include the National Cancer Institute-designated UC Davis Cancer Center; the region's only level 1 pediatric and adult trauma centers; the UC Davis MIND Institute, devoted to finding treatments and cures for neurodevelopmental disorders; and the UC Davis Children's Hospital. The medical center serves a 33-county, 65,000-square-mile area that stretches north to the Oregon border and east to Nevada. It further extends its reach through the award-winning telemedicine program, which gives remote, medically underserved communities throughout California unprecedented access to specialty and subspecialty care. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter.

Author's Disclosure: The author is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the UC Davis Health System, a non-paid all volunteer board.