U.S. News & World Report magazine last week named University Hospital's intensive medical care units as one of the top 100 intensive care units in the country.
The magazine's data was compiled by Solucient Leadership Institute, an Illinois-based health care data company. The rankings are based on mortality rates, costs, length of stay and complications in treatment. The University's ICU is one of 15 university hospitals placed in the top 100.
The release of the rankings end the first broad and comparative review of ICUs across the country.
John Truwitt, director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and chairman of the Critical Care Committee, said he is not surprised at the Medical Center's success.
"In two separate studies [the Medical Center was] a national leader," Truwitt said.
University Hospital is very dedicated to the health of their patients, he said. "Doctors, nurses and therapists' relationships with patients and families is on a very personal level," he added.
For the last three years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University's endocrinology, oncology, pulmonary, gastrointrology, cardiology, urology and neurosurgery departments in the top 40 for their respective departments.
The magazine ranked the University's neurosurgery and neurology department 18th this year, University Hospital's highest showing in the list.
William E. Carter, senior associate vice president for the University's health system, said he was very pleased about the ICU report.
"We've done a lot of things over the years - but this is the first year we've been rated for ICUs alone, and we just fit the criterion," Carter said. "We do routine things, such as upgrading the physiological monitors, to improve daily."
The report should have a positive impact on the already high application numbers to the University's Medical School, Truwitt said.
"When we recruit students, we definitely use this information for recruitment," he said.
Despite the report release, University Hospital continues to focus on its duties as a health care provider. But, Truwitt said, officials are pleased that the Hospital staff's dedication has been recognized by a national audience. "We're honored to have received such a prestigious ranking, it reflects our commitment to patient-family care," he said.
According to information released with the rankings, ICUs serve five million patients each year and represent 15 percent of all hospital spending across the nation.
Officials expect the number of ICU patients to double over the next 15 years as the population ages.
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