UC San Diego Health Ranked Nationally by U.S. News & World Report

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UC San Diego Health and its medical and surgical specialties have been recognized as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2017-18. The annual “Best Hospitals” rankings distinguish hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging health conditions. Of the more than 4,500 U.S. hospitals evaluated, just 150 were ranked in at least one specialty this year.

UC San Diego Health ranked in eight specialties: Pulmonology (#13), Orthopedics (#20), Geriatrics (#34), Cancer (#40), Cardiology and Heart Surgery (#40), Neurology and Neurosurgery (#40), Gynecology (#42), and Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Surgery (#46). U.S. News & World Report also considered UC San Diego Health high-performing in Nephrology and Urology.

UC San Diego Health is home to the only nationally ranked Cancer program in the region, anchored by Moores Cancer Center, the only local National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“As the only academic health system in San Diego and a major referral center for the most complex medical cases locally and nationally, we’re proud that the world-class care we provide to our patients continues to be reflected in our ranking as one of the top hospitals in the nation,” said Patty Maysent, CEO, UC San Diego Health. “Being named among the best in eight specialties is further evidence of the exemplary work of our clinicians, surgeons and supporting teams in achieving top clinical outcomes across an array of conditions.”

U.S. News & World Report publishes “Best Hospitals” to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face a particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition or extra risk due to age, multiple health issues or other problems. Objective measures, such as patient survival and safety data, the number of times a given procedure is performed, infection rates and adequacy of nurse staffing factor into the rankings. The rankings are available at health.usnews.com/best-hospitals

In late 2016, UC San Diego Health opened Jacobs Medical Center, a 10-story, 509,500-square-foot expansion of UC San Diego Health’s La Jolla campus. Jacobs Medical Center offers specialized services and expertise for advanced surgery, cancer care and women and infants care. In early 2018, UC San Diego Health will open a new four-story, 166,420-square-foot outpatient pavilion on the La Jolla campus, featuring ambulatory surgical care in orthopedics and sports medicine, as well as specialty services in breast oncology and imaging, urology, pain medicine, physical therapy and more.

UC San Diego Health also comprises UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, Thornton Pavilion, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, all in La Jolla, as well as other primary and specialty practices located throughout Southern California. The UC San Diego Medical Center is home to the area’s only Regional Burn Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, and one of only two level I trauma centers in the county. The campus is also home to the Owen Clinic, among the nation’s top HIV care programs.

UC San Diego Health also received a number of other national distinctions in 2017 for safety, innovation, quality patient care and clinical research: "A" for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group, named among the "100 Great Hospitals in America” by Becker’s Hospital Review and received a “Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence” from Healthgrades, placing us among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals based on objective clinical metrics.