MINNEAPOLIS (July 8, 2005) – The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is earning more national recognition for an even longer list of medical specialties.

The medical center, the core teaching hospital of the University of Minnesota Medical School, is ranked among the nation’s best in 10 specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report.  Last year the hospital was ranked in seven specialties.

“It’s fantastic news,” said Gordon Alexander, M.D., president of the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.  “The fact we’re ranked so high in so many categories shows the breadth of talent we have in this organization.  It’s physicians, nurses, researchers, therapists and other caregivers making a difference in the lives of our patients every day.”

The hospital is in elite company.  The report said only 176 hospitals, of more than 6,000 in the country, scored high enough to rank in even one of the 17 specialties.

The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is ranked among the top 50 medical centers in the country in the following specialties:

Cancer, 23
Ear, Nose and Throat, 21
Geriatrics, 26
Hormonal disorders, 24
Kidney, 26
Neurology/neurosurgery, 30
Orthopedics, 21
Gynecology, 39
Urology, 48
Respiratory, 24
 
U.S. News Methodology
Each year U.S. News & World Report ranks the nation’s best hospitals according to criteria based in part on reputation, death rate and care-related factors like nursing and patient services.  For consideration in 12 of the 17 categories, hospitals first had to meet at least one of three requirements:  be a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, be affiliated with a medical school or perform at least nine of 18 technology-related procedures, such as positron-emission tomography. This year’s special “Best Hospitals” edition hits newsstands July 11.

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