U.S. News & World Report Recognizes Baystate as a Top Hospital

SPRINGFIELD —  Baystate Medical Center has been named a “top hospital” — the third-best hospital in Massachusetts — in the U.S. News & World Report’s 24th annual “Best Hospitals” ranking, recognizing hospitals that excel in treating patients who need an especially high level of care. U.S. News & World Report ranks up to 50 hospitals in each of 16 medical specialties. Only 147 out of nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals earned national ranking in one or more of the specialties.

Baystate Medical Center’s ranking, up from fifth-best hospital in last year’s “Best Hospitals” report, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all Baystate employees in making quality and patient safety second to none, noted Dr. Evan Benjamin, senior vice president, Healthcare Quality, Baystate Health. “What our high ranking means for patients is that Baystate Medical Center is recognized nationally as one of the safest hospitals in the country in terms of outcomes and avoiding serious medical errors. This latest honor is just one of many national awards and recognitions Baystate Medical Center has received over the past years for its high quality of care. Providing world-class healthcare close to home in Western Mass. not only represents the fulfillment of our mission, it also helps to keep our Pioneer Valley community strong in terms of our overall health, economy, and quality of life.”

Baystate Medical Center was ranked nationally in diabetes and endocrinology (29th); ear, nose, and throat (26th); and pulmonology (42nd). The hospital also was recognized as “high-performing” in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and urology.

“The mission of Best Hospitals is to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face a particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. “Patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse-staffing levels, and other objective data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.”

The research organization RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C. conducted the physician survey and produced the Best Hospital methodology and national rankings under contract with U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine separately published the “Best Children’s Hospitals 2013-2014” rankings last month, where Baystate Children’s Hospital was ranked 34th in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology.