UCI Medical Center receives U.S. News’ best hospitals honor
Orange, Calif., July 2, 2004 -- University of California, Irvine Medical Center has been named one of the nation's best hospitals for geriatrics and gynecology, according to U.S.News & World Report's annual ranking of America's leading hospitals. The list will be published in the July 12 America's Best Hospitals issue, which hits newsstands July 5. This is the fourth consecutive year UCI Medical Center has been listed in U.S. News’ annual report, which comes on the heels of its award as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals™.
“It is gratifying that UCI Medical Center has once again been named one of the nation’s premier hospitals,” said Dr. Ralph W. Cygan, UCI Medical Center’s chief executive officer. “Our women’s health-care team has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, and we are proud of these outstanding physicians and staff.
“The additional recognition of our geriatrics team is a significant step for us. We have recruited some of the top geriatricians in America and surrounded them with a talented staff, providing a unique team-approach to the care of seniors. This recognition reinforces the reputation of UCI Medical Center as a trusted health-care resource for all of Orange County.”
UCI’s reputation in the field of gynecology is well established, with faculty physicians leading the top organizations for their specialty. Dr. Philip J. Di Saia, chief of the division of gynecologic oncology, is president of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Vivian Dickerson, director of UCI’s division of general obstetrics and gynecology, is currently serving as president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition, professors Thomas Garite and Moon Kim are chief editors of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Since 1990, U.S.News & World Report has identified medical centers with unique capabilities in one or more areas that often serve as referral centers for other hospitals because their physicians see sicker patients and do higher volumes of tough procedures. Only 117 hospitals nationally, or fewer than 1 in 30, were ranked in even a single specialty this year. According to U.S. News, ranked hospitals tend to follow and often propose advanced treatment guidelines and conduct research that transfers from bench to bedside.
UCI Medical Center was ranked number 22 out of 50 top hospitals for gynecology and 45 of 50 hospitals for geriatrics, according to methodology created by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The score combines reputation, mortality and other factors related to care, such as nursing and patient services.
Cygan believes the addition of the new university hospital will enhance UCI’s ability to recruit and retain top faculty physicians to practice at the medical center. “I am confident that when we complete our new university hospital, we will have a facility that is comparable to the high-quality patient care and research for which we have become nationally known,” Cygan said.
Construction of UCI’s new world-class, state-of-the-art hospital will begin in early 2005 and be completed by 2009. The 221-bed hospital will offer a patient-oriented, healing environment, incorporating the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies.
About UCI Medical Center: UCI Medical Center is the only university hospital in Orange County, offering acute- and general-care service. It has the county's only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Included in its University Children’s Hospital is the county's most sophisticated neonatal unit, caring for more than 500 premature and at-risk infants a year.
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Media contacts:
Kim Pine, kpine@uci.edu
714-456-7759; pager 714-506-0472
Tom Vasich, tmvasich@uci.edu
949-824-6455