U.S. News & World Report

The clinical specialties at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have been consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report, as featured in its July 23, 2007 issue. HUP is recognized for 13 of the adult medical specialties reviewed by US News. In addition, Pennsylvania Hospital was recognized for excellence in orthopaedics.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine was also among the top three research-oriented medical schools in the nation, according to an annual survey of graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report in the April 3, 2007 newsstand book, America's Best Graduate Schools. In this annual survey of graduate schools, Penn ranked #3 in the prestigious survey and earned top 10 rankings in four specialty programs: Internal Medicine (#4), Drug/Alcohol Abuse (#6), Women's Health (#3) and Pediatrics (#1). Penn is the only medical school in the Delaware Valley to appear in the ranking.

U.S. News also consistently ranks the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing among the nation's best.

ANCC Magnet Recognition

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) has achieved Magnet status – the highest institutional honor awarded for nursing excellence – from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

To achieve Magnet status, a hospital must undergo a rigorous review process demonstrating they are committed to sustaining nursing excellence, improving professional practice, and transforming the culture of a work environment.

Click here to read the complete news release >>

Top Doctors, 2008

Each year, Philadelphia Magazine compiles its "Top Doctors" list of the region's best physicians. The physicians of the University of Pennsylvania Health System always figure prominently on this list, and 2008 was no exception.

This year, over one-third of the physicians who made the Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors list are from Penn. Congratulations to the 134 Penn physicians who were included in Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors 2008.

Click here to view the list of Penn's Top Doctors >>

National Institutes of Health Grant Funding

According to figures released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ranks 2nd in the nation in terms of total research awards to academic medical schools in the United States. For Fiscal Year 2005, Penn received 924 total awards – including research and training grants – worth more than $399 million. This total represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year.

LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center

In January 2007, The Abramson Cancer Center's Living Well After Cancer™ program was awarded the LIVESTRONG™ Survivorship Center of Excellence designation by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Penn's Living Well After Cancer™ program is the only LIVESTRONG™ Cancer Survivorship Center of Excellence in the region. This status reflects our excellence in clinical care, research and education for adults and childhood cancer survivors.

"Most Wired" Hospitals – Hospitals & Health Networks

In 2006, UPHS was named one of the nation's 100 "Most Wired" hospitals and health care systems by Hospitals & Health Networks, the Journal of the American Hospital Association.

This prestigious award is based on an annual survey which polls the nation's health care systems on their use of Internet technologies to connect with patients, physicians and nurses, payors, health plans and employees. UPHS has been recognized by this award every year for the last six years.

Hospital of Choice Awards – American Alliance of Healthcare Providers

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is one of America's 100 Choice Hospitals in 2007 as recognized by The American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. This “Hospital of Choice” Award recognizes hospitals that go beyond their walls in pursuit of excellence and quality care, reaching out to the community's physicians and healthcare organizations in an effort to make their services accessible to all.

New Biomedical Institutes

With the goal of integrating research clinical and educational missions in an avenue that will benefit and enhance public health, The University of Pennsylvania has announced the establish ment of three new biomedical institutes – Penn Cardiovascular Institute; the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism; and the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics.

Each institute will emphasize cooperation, partnership and cross-collaboration among scientists and physicians throughout Penn's departments and schools.

Top Ten Hospitals in America – AARP's Modern Maturity

In May 2004, a study in AARP Modern Maturity ranked Pennsylvania Hospital as one of the Top Ten Hospitals in America. The hospital received additional honors for cardiac care, cardiovascular surgeries, infectious care, knee-hip orthopaedics and pulmonary care -- all five specialties are also ranked within the top 10 in the nation.

Top Cardiovascular Hospitals – Solucient

In its most recent survey, Solucient, Inc. named Penn Presbyterian Medical Center as one of the nation's 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals, marking the fifth year in a row Penn Presbyterian has been awarded the distinction.

The national study, 100 Top Cardiac Hospitals®: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success, conducted annually by Solucient, Inc., objectively measures performance on key criteria and provides benchmarks for performance improvement for use by all hospitals that provide cardiac care. The study found that these top 100 hospitals consistently outperform their peers, especially in complication and mortality rates.

"25 Most Influential" – RT Image Magazine

For its recent installation of three new, state-of-the-art, high-powered MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) systems – a “Radiology First” for any hospital in the United States – RT Image has chosen the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as one of its “25 Most Influential” movers and shakers in the radiology industry in 2006.

Every year, RT Image presents its roster of radiology's most powerful people, institutions, and organizations, based on who has influenced the radiology profession in a positive way in the last year. The publication also noted HUP as an innovator in PET/CT technology for employing the world's first “time-of-flight” technology, pioneered in part at Penn, in a uniquely outfitted new system that captures a precise, simultaneous structural and functional “look inside the body.” Read the complete news release.

Comprehensive Cancer Centers – National Cancer Institute

The Abramson Cancer Center is one of a select group of cancer centers in the country awarded the prestigious designation of Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. This status, which has been awarded to the Abramson Cancer Center continuously for the past 30 years, reflects our outstanding research, clinical services, education and information services and community outreach.

Blue Distinction Centers^(SM) for Cardiac Care – Independence Blue Cross

For specialty centers offering best practices and standards of care in bariatric surgery, cardiac care and transplant surgery, in October 2006 Independence Blue Cross recognized the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center as Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care.

The process used to select Blue Distinction Centers is based on clinical data supplied by hospitals. Each facility's structure, processes and care outcomes are rigorously evaluated. The criteria for designation include nationally endorsed quality measures developed in collaboration with medical experts and professional organizations. Read the complete news release.

Breast Cancer Center of Excellence

In July of 2005, The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine was named a Breast Cancer Center of Excellence by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. This designation – which includes a $10 million grant – establishes Penn as one of only 14 such sites in the United States.

Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

We are pleased to announce that the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's Bariatric Surgery Program has been designated by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery as a Center of Excellence. With this distinction, the Surgical Review Corporation recognizes two of the program's experienced surgeons, Dr. Noel Williams and Dr. Steven Raper, as well as the center's outstanding facilities and patient care.

This prestigious designation recognizes the Bariatric Surgery Program's dedication to helping patients achieve their lifestyle and weight loss goals. HUP's Bariatric Surgery Program is proud to be a national leader in this area, and continues its commitment to providing the best possible medical care to its patients.

Penn Vital Signs, Three-Time Emmy Winner!

The University of Pennsylvania Health System embarked on a project to show how we care for our patients and provide treatment options, professional care and clinical excellence in the Philadelphia region. The concept for Penn Vital Signs was formed. Over the years, many of our physicians, surgeons, nurses, technicians and staff have, in some way, been involved with this program.

We were recently recognized for our efforts. The National Television Academy of Television Arts and Science awards leaders in the Mid-Atlantic area for excellence in television programming. This year, Penn Vital Signs was nominated in three categories: Outstanding Public Affairs series, Outstanding Health and Science Program and Writing for a Series.

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Wins the 2006 Gift of Life Award

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) has won the 2006 Gift of Life Award from the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council (DVHC). According to the DVHC, the Award was established this year “to recognize a hospital for excellence in family care and outstanding rates of performance in organ donation. HUP's dedication to the cause was most impressive and the selection committee felt strongly that they deserved to win the 2006 Gift of Life Award.”

HUP was responsible for 38 organ donations from July 2005 to June 2006, the highest number of organ donations in the history of the Gift of Life program. With a conversion rate of 81 percent, HUP's performance was unprecedented in terms of the ability to convert such a large number of potential donors into actual donors.

Additional accolades for the University of Pennsylvania Health System:

• Among top 100 integrated health care systems (Modern Healthcare magazine, 2000)
• One of top three health care award recipients for national Quality Cup competition (USA Today and the Rochester Institute of Technology, 2000)
• HUP recognized by "Consumer Choice Awards" for providing quality service and patient care (National Research Corporation, 2000)