Intermountain Press Release

Salt Lake City—For the fifth year, Intermountain Healthcare's LDS Hospital has been named one of America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

In the magazine's prestigious rankings of America's medical leaders for 2007, on newsstands on Monday, LDS Hospital is once again ranked in more specialties than any other Utah medical center. LDS was cited for its excellence in endocrinology/diabetes care, treatment of kidney disease, and the treatment of urological diseases and disorders.

Out of 5,426 hospitals evaluated across the nation, LDS Hospital is one of only 173 medical centers that met the standard in one or more specialties to earn a ranking from the magazine.

"This is wonderful recognition of the dedication to excellence and patient-centered focus that drives everything we do," says LDS Hospital CEO Mikelle Moore. "I want to personally thank our employees, our physician partners, our volunteers, and everyone else who helps make a difference in the lives of those who come to us for the very best care possible."

U.S. News & World Report ranks LDS Hospital 23rd in the nation for urology, 44th for treatment of kidney diseases, and 47th for endocrinology or diabetes care.

Hospitals were ranked in 16 different categories. Initial eligibility for these data-driven specialties required ranked hospitals to meet any of three standards: membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals, affiliation with a medical school, or availability of at least nine out of 18 key technologies like shaped beam radiation and advanced cancer therapy. This year, less than a third of the hospitals qualified.

Hospitals were then judged on mortality rates, reputation, and a mix of care-related factors such as nursing (i.e., nurse/patient ratios and Magnet-designated hospitals) and other patient services.

The objective of the Best Hospitals in America survey is to identify centers that take on and excel at tough procedures and conditions.

In an accompanying article, titled "What It Takes to Be The Best," the magazine states, "hospitals are ranked by specialty and not by specific procedures because the goal is to identify facilities that excel at treating a variety of demanding illnesses and procedures within a specialty, not just a few... what this means is that when confronted with a difficult or complex condition, selecting a hospital with a solid track record could be nothing less than life-saving."

• America's Best Hospitals 2007