UC Irvine Medical Center among America's Best Hospitals for 17th consecutive year

Program in geriatrics ranked in top 50

August 08, 2017

For the 17th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has recognized UC Irvine Medical Center as one of “America’s Best Hospitals.” The annual rankings recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients and this year highlights the excellence of UCI Health geriatric medicine and senior health services, ranking the specialty 49th among similar programs nationally. 

“Inclusion among America’s Best Hospitals for 17 consecutive years reflects the daily dedication of UCI Health physicians, nurses and staff to provide Orange County residents with accessible world-class treatment of serious and complex cases,” said Howard J. Federoff, MD, PhD, Vice Chancellor, Health Affairs, and CEO, UCI Health.

UC Irvine Medical Center is the only Orange County hospital consistently rated among America’s best by U.S. News. It is ranked No. 11 in California and No. 6 in the Los Angeles metropolitan region. In addition to its 2017-18 nationally ranked specialty, UCI Health programs in cancer, gastroenterology & GI surgery, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopaedics, pulmonology and urology are rated as high performing.

UCI Health also achieved the highest rating possible in five Common Adult Procedures and Conditions identified by U.S. News:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
  • Heart Failure
  • Colon Cancer Surgery
  • Knee Replacement
  • Lung Cancer Surgery

Lisa Gibbs, MD, Orange County’s 2017 Physician of the Year, leads the UCI Health SeniorHealth Center and the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology in the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

“Dr. Gibbs and her team provide older adults and their families with the peace of mind that they are receiving the very best healthcare available for seniors,” said Michael J. Stamos, dean, UC Irvine School of Medicine. “This team’s commitment and excellence brilliantly reflect our vision: Powered by discovery and innovation, UCI Health will advance individual and population health.”

In 2014, the program was certified as one of the country's first patient-centered medical homes focusing on geriatric care.

Since 2001, the magazine has listed UCI Health programs in urology, gynecology, geriatrics, cancer, digestive disorders/ gastroenterology & GI surgery, nephrology, orthopaedics and ear, nose & throat among the top 50 nationwide.

In addition to its longstanding inclusion among America’s Best Hospitals, UCI Health earned a sixth consecutive “A” rating in The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2017 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

In January 2017, the Orange County Medical Association recognized more than 150 UCI Health physicians as "Physicians of Excellence." The UCI Health medical faculty also includes more than 100 “Best Doctors in America,” more than any other hospital serving Orange County.

For the 2017-18 rankings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 152 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.

“For nearly three decades, we’ve strived to make hospital quality more transparent to healthcare consumers nationwide,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. "By providing the most comprehensive data available, we hope to give patients the information they need to find the best care across a range of specialties.”

The U.S. News methodologies include risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety, quality of nursing care and other care-related indicators.

Best Hospitals was produced by U.S. News with RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

The rankings will be published in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals 2017” guidebook, available for pre-sale August 1. For more information, visit Best Hospitals.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 417-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 17 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually