July 8, 2005

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Earns “Honor Roll” Status in
U.S.News & World Report’s Annual “Best Hospitals” Survey
For a remarkable ninth consecutive year, HUP is the only Philadelphia hospital to achieve
exclusive “Honor Roll” status

(Philadelphia, PA) – Once again the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) has been listed in the “Honor Roll” of best hospitals in America by U.S.News & World Report, as featured in its July 18th issue. The publication’s annual ranking of hospitals lists HUP as one of only 16 hospitals in the nation to be recognized as an “Honor Roll” hospital for its exceptional performance in many specialty areas.

“We are proud that the exceptional patient care provided at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been recognized by U.S. News, and that we have been honored as one of the select ‘Honor Roll’ hospitals in the nation,” said Garry Scheib, Executive Director of HUP and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS). “This achievement reflects the extraordinary dedication and expertise of the physicians, nurses, technologists, and staff at HUP, as well as our ongoing commitment to national leadership in patient care, medical education, and research.”

Of the hospitals included in the survey, HUP ranked best in the Philadelphia area in: Heart and Heart Surgery; Neurology and Neurosurgery; Gynecology; Ear, Nose and Throat; Respiratory Disorders; Digestive Disorders; Rheumatology; Geriatrics; Kidney Disease; Urology; and Psychiatry; and its expertise was similarly highlighted in Cancer; Hormonal Disorders; and Rehabilitation. HUP’s excellence in these specialty areas stems from the comprehensive care that has been provided by the hospital, over multiple generations, to the Philadelphia community and beyond.

“For more than two centuries, Penn has been committed to the highest standards of patient care, education and research,” said Ralph W. Muller, Chief Executive Officer of UPHS. “And as the primary teaching hospital of Penn's School of Medicine, HUP attracts extraordinary clinicians, scientists, and students that help advance patient care in America through pioneering initiatives in biomedical research.”

Since 1990, U.S.News & World Report has published this annual special issue, which provides a ranking of hospital quality of care on a nationwide basis and is meant to help consumers make informed decisions when looking for hospital care. The survey evaluated approximately 6,007 hospitals around the country, based on their reputation among a group of randomly selected, board-certified physicians. The survey also considered such factors as mortality rate and factored in measures specific to each of the 17 specialties included in the survey; this year, only 176 hospitals scored high enough to rank in even a single specialty. To be on the “Honor Roll,” hospitals must be ranked very highly in at least six of the 17 specialties.

The complete guide appears in the July 18th edition, which will appear on newsstands on July 11th. Rankings are also available online at www.usnews.com.

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PENN Medicine is a $2.7 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Penn’s School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

Penn Health System is comprised of: its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, consistently rated one of the nation’s “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; Presbyterian Medical Center; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home health care and hospice.

This release is available online at http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/jul05/HonorRoll.htm