"We know that rankings and ratings all have their weaknesses and strengths, but as health care choices become increasingly important, independent evaluations continue to play a role for our patients, the public, referring physicians and insurers. The elements of what makes us rank high are firmly in place, and we will, as always, strive to make Hopkins Hospital the best choice year after year," the joint statement noted.

This year's guide reports rankings of 152 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialities, 12 of which were supported by hard data such as mortality rates, volume of patients, the availability of new technologies, enhanced patient services, state-certified trauma care, nurse staffing strength, breadth of services, patient safety, discharge planning, the ratio of nurses to patients, certification as a Nurse Magnet Hospital, designation as a National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease treatment center, designation as a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, designation as an Epilepsy Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, and state certification as a trauma care center. Four specialties were ranked on the basis of reputation alone: ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology.

The reputational results were driven by a survey among a national sample of board-certified specialty physicians.

Overall, the magazine says, its "Best list" ranking methodology "judges medical centers on their competence in complex, demanding situations, often with high-risk patients," as well as on "routine proceduresand unthreatening conditions."

Miller and Peterson once again congratulated all of the medical centers on the magazine's honor roll. "We are privileged to be in their good company," they said.

SOURCE Johns Hopkins Hospital