UW Medical Center, part of the UW Medicine health system, has earned U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 ranking for care in Washington state and in the Seattle metro area. This is the fifth consecutive year that UW Medical Center has achieved that dual distinction.

The news magazine has published its 2016-2017 national, state and local rankings of “Best Hospitals” across the United States, resulting from its evaluation of nearly 5,000 facilities.

UW Medical Center received top-20 national rankings in four specialties: rehabilitation medicine (No. 4; the program is jointly located at UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center); cancer (No. 7, provided jointly with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance); ear, nose and throat (No. 16); and geriatrics (No. 20).

“I am immensely proud of the nurses, faculty physicians and staff who coordinate and deliver patient care at UW Medical Center,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO, UW Medicine. “To be distinguished among all of the hospitals in the state and in Seattle is a reflection of the excellent outcomes that UW Medicine strives to provide every patient.”

U.S. News, as part of its methodology, graded hospitals on care involving specific conditions and procedures. UW Medicine’s four hospitals – UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, and Valley Medical Center – earned a “high performing” designation in these areas:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair 1, 2
• Aortic valve surgery 1
• Heart-bypass surgery 1
• Heart failure 1, 2, 3
• Colon cancer surgery 1
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 1, 3
• Hip replacement 3, 4
• Knee replacement 1, 3, 4
• Lung cancer surgery 1

(Legend: 1=UW Medical Center; 2=Harborview Medical Center;
3=Valley Medical Center; 4=Northwest Hospital & Medical Center)

Additionally, UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center and Valley Medical Center each earned a “Best Hospital” in Puget Sound designation.

The U.S. News “Best Hospitals” rankings, in their 27th year, are intended to help guide patients to healthcare facilities that deliver outstanding care.