U.S. News & World Report released new ratings May 20, called “Best Hospitals for Common Care.” It rates thousands of U.S. healthcare facilities in five common conditions and surgical procedures. The new report is separate from U.S. News’ traditional ranking of the top 50 “Best Hospitals,” which focuses on high-acuity care. The University of Kansas Hospital is nationally ranked in all 12 adult specialty areas of the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” list for 2014-15.  The new rankings come out in July.

   The newly released ‘Common Care’ ratings range from High Performing, Average or Below Average in five categories: coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass), hip replacement, knee replacement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure. The report encompasses more than 4,000 hospitals.  Within each of those five areas, the report further examines 15 measures, such as patient experience, readmissions, hospital acquired infections and survival. Overall, our hospital receives High Performing and Average ratings. Lee Norman, MD, chief medical officer explains more about the ratings.