UCSD Medical Center was the top hospital in San Diego for the fifth consecutive year, according to rankings released Monday night by U.S. News & World Report, with Scripps-affiliated facilities finishing second and third.
UC San Diego Health also ranked in the top 50 nationally in a dozen specialties.
UC San Diego Health CEO Paul Viviano called the recognition a "remarkable achievement."
"UC San Diego's yearly rise in rankings is evidence of the extraordinary efforts of our team to offer demonstrably superior clinical care to all patients across a range of diseases and chronic conditions," Viviano said.
UC San Diego Health — which also includes Thornton Hospital, the Moores Cancer Center, the Shiley Eye Institute and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center — was ranked sixth in pulmonology; 18th in geriatrics; 20th in nephrology; 22nd in neurology and neurosurgery; 23rd in cancer treatment; 24th for cardiology and heart surgery, and also for gastroenterology and GI surgery; 25th for urology; 31st for both orthopedics, and diabetes and endocrinology; 33rd for ear, nose & throat; and 44th for gynecology.
For Scripps Health, the magazine combined the offerings of Scripps Memorial and Green hospitals as the Scripps La Jolla Hospital and Clinics.
They ranked 13th in diabetes and endocrinology, 14th in gynecology, 19th in cardiology and heart surgery, 22nd in pulmonology, 23rd in orthopedics, 31st in geriatrics, 35th in gastroenterology and GI surgery, and 37th in ears, nose and throat.
Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest was ranked 42nd in diabetes and endocrinology.
"These rankings are a testament to the extraordinary care that our physicians and staff provide to our patients every day," said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO.
"This is more evidence that we are succeeding in our efforts to respond to the changing health care environment while improving Scripps' already high quality care."
The combined programs of Scripps Green and Scripps La Jolla were ranked seventh in California and second in the San Diego region. Scripps Mercy was ranked 16th in California and third in the San Diego metropolitan area.
The publication ranks the hospitals every year by using criteria like death rates in challenging cases, patient safety and reputation among physicians.
