James No. 15 for Cancer Treatment; Riverside, Grant Also in Top 50
By Marla Matzer Rose, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
Jul. 13–The cancer-treatment program at Ohio State University’s Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital is one of the top 15 in the country, according to the 2007 America’s Best Hospitals list being released today by U.S. News & World Report.
OSU hospitals also earned high rankings in six other specialties, including rehabilitation and kidney disease. OhioHealth’s Riverside Methodist and Grant hospitals again placed in the top 50 — Riverside for heart treatment and heart surgery and Grant for orthopedics.
The hospitals are in an elite group: Just 173 medical centers out of almost 5,500 nationally are represented on the magazine’s lists. The magazine bases its annual rankings on statistical data as well as industry professionals’ views of the institutions’ reputations.
The James Cancer Hospital’s ranking in that specialty puts it ahead of the Cleveland Clinic, which is ranked No. 4 on U.S. News’ elite “honor roll” of the best hospitals in the nation. The Cleveland Clinic was the only Ohio hospital to get that distinction.
OSU Medical Center leaders say the James’ ranking is an important recognition of the work the university has put into its cancer program.
“The cancer center’s elevated profile is especially gratifying to see after a concerted effort for many years to attract and retain researchers and clinicians making important contributions to advancements in diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer,” said Dr. Fred Sanfilippo, CEO of the OSU Medical Center.
Dr. Hagop S. Mekhjian, chief medical officer of the OSU Medical Center, said the scores are a benchmark of the center’s growing reputation and a tool that can aid in attracting top talent.
“There are two parts to these scores: the reputational score and the ‘nitty gritty’ facts such as nursing index and mortality rates. The reputational score is the most heavily weighted, so this says that the word has gotten around about OSU.”
Dr. Mark Montoney, chief medical officer for OhioHealth, said a good showing in the rankings is a boost to staff morale. He added that this year’s rankings are also a good sign for Columbus.
“It just goes to show that Columbus is a very strong town from a health-care perspective,” he said.
Hospitals often cite the U.S. News rankings in marketing. Riverside has promoted its previous ranking in the heart category on a billboard along Rt. 315, near the hospital.
“Hospitals do tend to look toward these rankings for marketing purposes,” said Tiffany Himmelreich, a spokeswoman for OhioHealth. “But it’s a fine line we walk with them. They’re a useful tool in the toolbox, but rankings alone aren’t a good way to make health-care decisions.”
mrose@dispatch.com
Where Columbus hospitals rank
Local hospitals received high national rankings for a variety of specialties in U.S. News & World Report:
Grant Medical Center/OhioHealth
Orthopedics — 31
Ohio State University Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital
Cancer — 15
OSU Hospitals
Ear, nose and throat — 19
Gynecology — 35
Kidney disease — 24
Orthopedics — 50
Rehabilitation — 10
Respiratory disorders — 41
Riverside Methodist Hospital/OhioHealth
Heart and heart surgery — 45
Source: U.S. News & World Report
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