2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING MEDICAL HOSPITALS IN THE UNITED STATES
Finding the Top Medical Centers in the United States
Access to quality health care is of mighty importance to everyone. The need to find the best doctors and the top medical centers becomes even more pronounced when you are faced with a medical procedure that requires treatment.
In this case, many Americans look outside their immediate community and usual healthcare providers to find the best medical centers in the U.S. for treating their issue.
Award Emblem: Best Medical Centers in the U.S.
Because of the way in which funding is allocated and talent concentrates in specific areas, the best specialists for an inpatient procedure may be located across the country in medical hospitals far from your area.
Some people facing extremely complicated procedures or rare diagnoses sometimes travel to these top medical centers just for a consultation or a second opinion. At times, finding the best medical centers in the U.S. can be a matter of life and death.
Fortunately, there are regular reviews to see just how well our medical centers are performing. These reviews of the best medical centers in the U.S. look at everything from patient care to how well the medical hospitals are doing not just overall, but with specific specialties. A list is regularly published by U.S. News and World Reports, and we have provided an overview of the six hospitals at the top of their list.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of Top 6 Best Medical Centers in the U.S.
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the top medical center names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that medical hospital):
- Cleveland Clinic
- Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Massachusetts Medical Hospital
- Mayo Clinic
- New York-Presbyterian University Hospital
- UCLA Medical Center
Top 6 Best Medical Hospitals | Brief Comparison
Medical Hospitals | Location | Inpatient Procedures | Outpatient Procedures | Admissions |
| Cleveland Clinic | Cleveland, Ohio | 26,013 | 69,975 | 54,997 |
| Johns Hopkins Hospital | Baltimore, Maryland | 23,647 | 37,615 | 46,673 |
| Massachusetts Medical Hospital | Boston, Massachusetts | 19,131 | 22,178 | 48,587 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, Minnesota | 50,918 | 21,035 | 62,400 |
| NY-Pres University Hospital | New York City, New York | 31,612 | 78,190 | 104,600 |
| UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles, California | 10,988 | 15,855 | 23,508 |
Table: Top 6 Medical Hospitals | Above list is sorted alphabetically
The Best Medical Centers in the U.S. Provide Varying Levels of Healthcare
Healthcare is typically divided into different levels, as broken down by Very Well, and some medical hospitals have extensive networks that meet these various needs.
Primary Healthcare
Primary care practitioners at medicals centers are our first point of contact for our run-of-the-mill health care needs. They are usually your family doctor or a nurse practitioner who treats you if you have a cold, the flu, a rash, or even a broken bone. There are also primary care practitioners who are specialists, like OB/GYNs, who provide treatment at various clinics or medical hospitals.
Secondary Healthcare
When you visit a clinic or medical center to see a primary health care professional, they may be unable to fully diagnose or treat your problem. In cases like this, they will refer you to a specialist at another medical center hospital (or perhaps within that same medical hospital) for further examination. That secondary health care provider is usually somebody who is more specialized in the branch of medicine your issue falls under. Specialists like oncologists and urologists are secondary health care providers.
This is also where patient care and medical administration becomes extremely important. If a patient has multiple health issues, lack of coordination between doctors and medical centers can lead to vital information not being shared between specialists and especially with your primary physician.
Tertiary Healthcare
This is the level of healthcare that requires hospitalization or more sophisticated procedures to be performed on a patient in a medical hospital. Procedures like aortic valve surgery fall into this category and require specialized equipment and highly trained professionals. This is not limited to emergencies or procedures for health purposes. Tertiary care can also include cosmetic procedures like plastic surgery.
Quaternary Healthcare
As Very Well notes, quaternary healthcare is so specialized that not all medical hospitals are equipped to provide it. Patients who require this level of highly sophisticated, sometimes experimental, care usually have to relocate or travel far distances to get to the top medical centers that can administer the treatments or perform the operations they need.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Medical Hospitals
Below, please find the detailed review of each center on our list of the best medical centers in the U.S. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these medical hospitals to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Cleveland Clinic Review
The Cleveland Clinic is an academic medical center hospital located in Cleveland, Ohio. Considered one of the best medical hospitals in the country, this top medical center combines patient care and medical research to be a U.S. contender for best medical center in the world.
The Cleveland Clinic medical center hospital was founded in 1921, and it is one of the country’s highest-volume medical centers. According to the hospital medical center website, the Cleveland Clinic handles 5.1 million patient visits every year. The medical hospital employs more than 3,000 physicians and scientists.
In the past year, the medical hospital performed 26,013 inpatient surgeries and 69,975 outpatient surgeries. This top medical center has top 3 rankings in the following specialties:
- Cardiology and Heart Surgery (#1)
- Nephrology (#2)
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#2)
- Urology (#2)
- Diabetes & Endocrinology (#3)
- Gynecology (#3)
- Orthopedics (#3)
- Pulmonology (#3)
- Rheumatology (#3)
This teaching medical hospital also received a ranking of “high performing” for the following procedures and conditions dealt with at the medical center hospital:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Hip replacement
- Knee replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
As one of the top medical centers in the country, the Cleveland Clinic attracts numerous bright and talented medical specialists, students, and researchers.
Johns Hopkins Hospital Review
Johns Hopkins Hospital is another one of the top medical centers that includes teaching alongside its patient care. It is one of the best medical centers in the US, and its name is widely recognized among patients. In its most recent year, the top medical center performed 23,647 inpatient surgeries and 37,615 outpatient surgeries. It is affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and is considered, if not the best medical center in the world, then definitely one of the best.
The western medical hospital is ranked number 1 in rheumatology and number 2 in neurology and neurosurgery. It is one of the top medical centers that has a “high performing” rating in the following areas:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Lung cancer surgery
The Johns Hopkins Hospital as a medical hospital organization is best thought of as a system of medical centers. The headquarters of the medical hospital is in Baltimore, but there are six academic and community hospitals as well as 39 outpatient sites.
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Massachusetts Medical Hospital Review
Some of the best medical centers in the U.S. are teaching medical hospitals. Some may argue that a contender for best medical center in the world should combine patient care and medical training. In this case, the Massachusetts Medical Hospital (also known as Mass General) would be a nominee for best medical center for both its patient care and training program.
As one of the best medical centers in the U.S., Mass General is one of the medical hospitals that attracts patients from across the country. The medical center hospital is affiliated with Harvard Medical School. It is the third oldest general medical hospital in the United States. It is also the biggest and oldest hospital in New England and considered the best medical center in the region.
As one of the best medical hospitals, Mass General had 19,131 inpatient surgeries annually and 22,178 outpatient surgeries. It is considered one of the best medical centers for patient safety due to its systematic commitment to reducing medical mistakes and accidents while administering care.
Mass General is considered one of the best medical centers in the U.S. for Ear, Throat, & Nose specialty and Psychiatry, with a number 1 ranking for both. Among the medical hospitals on this list, it has a “high performing” ranking for the following conditions and procedures:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Hip replacement
- Knee replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
Mayo Clinic Review
Even if you have never visited the Mayo Clinic, you may recognize the name of this medical center hospital from its popular medical blog. Google searches to answer questions about health and medical conditions often lead to the hospital medical center’s blog content. Beyond the Mayo Clinic’s prominent online presence, the medical hospital also has a distinguished reputation as a provider of quality patient care.
Founded in 1864 as a private medical practice by Dr. William Worrall Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic has since grown into a globally respected top medical center. It is one of the best medical centers in the U.S. It is now a 1,243-bed hospital medical center. In the last year, the Mayo Clinic, considered one of the top medical centers in the country, performed 50,918 inpatient surgeries and 21,035 outpatient surgeries.
The Mayo Clinic is one of the medical centers that has top rankings across a wide range of medical specialties. Among a survey of the top medical centers, they ranked number one for several specialties:
- Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology & GI surgery
- Geriatrics
- Gynecology
- Nephrology
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Pulmonology
- Urology
It is also one of the top medical centers that received a ranking of “high performing” for the following specific procedures or conditions addressed at medical centers like the Mayo Clinic:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Hip replacement
- Knee replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
Photo courtesy of The Mayo Clinic
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New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell Review
New York-Presbyterian is one of the best medical centers in the U.S., and as far as teaching medical hospitals go, it does double duty. The hospital medical center is affiliated with two Ivy League universities in New York State: Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Not only is this one of the top medical centers in the United States, it is also one of the largest medical hospitals in the country. It is a 2,328 bed facility with 104,600 admissions in its most recent year. That number includes 31,612 inpatient surgeries and 78,190 outpatient surgeries. Additionally, this top medical center’s emergency room handled 275,592 visits.
As one of the top medical centers in the country, New York-Presbyterian ranks highly for rheumatology (#2), cardiology & heart surgery (#3), neurology & neurosurgery (#3), psychiatry (#3), and nephrology (#4).
Included among some of the best medical centers in the U.S., New York-Presbyterian is deemed “high performing” in the following areas:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Hip replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
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UCLA Medical Center Review
Most people associate Los Angeles with the film industry, the health food craze, and movie stars, but it is also home to one of the best medical centers in the U.S. The UCLA Medical Center is made up of a network of primary and specialty care offices throughout the area. In addition to patient care, the medical hospital’s mandate includes a commitment to education and research, much like the other top medical centers in this article.
As one of the best medical hospitals in the country, the UCLA Medical Center is ranked highly in geriatrics (#2), urology (#3), and ear, nose, & throat treatment (#4).
Over 200 of the doctors who work with this western medical hospital are included on a list of the best doctors in America, and each year, over 2.5 million individuals visit their medical centers.
This western medical hospital is considered “high performing” in the following areas:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
- Aortic valve surgery
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Heart bypass surgery
- Heart failure
- Hip replacement
- Knee replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Medical Centers in the U.S.
Identifying the best medical centers in the U.S. is not just about looking at overall rankings. It also requires looking at which medical hospitals rank highest for the specific branch of medicine you need. Check the detailed rankings to see which top medical centers have the specialists with the expert skills you need to receive the highest quality of care.
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