UAB Hospital is the best hospital in Alabama according to U.S. News and World Report. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

University of Alabama at Birmingham is yet again named the best hospital in Alabama according to U.S News and World Report! This continues the winning trend for the hospital. Keep reading for more on UAB’s achievements.

U.S News and World Report has named UAB the best hospital in Alabama. UAB ranked among the best in the nation in 8 categories of medicine. The magazine also says that UAB is “high performing” in 14 of the 17 categories of adult procedures and conditions.

What are the numbers?

UAB has consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation. First, U.S News and World Report evaluated UAB programs. After review, a few programs were ranked exceptionally high and got a special shout out in the magazine.

Gynecology — Ranked #7 in the nation
Rheumatology — Ranked #10 in the nation
Rehabilitation — Ranked #22 in the nation
Ear, nose and throat — Ranked #25 in the nation
Cancer — Ranked #27 in the nation
Cardiology/Heart Surgery — Ranked #29 in the nation
Geriatrics — Ranked #30 in the nation
Pulmonology/lung surgery — Ranked #31 in the nation

“The past year has been extremely challenging in health care due to the stresses of the worldwide pandemic, so it is especially gratifying to see that U.S News & World Report again recognizes UAB Medicine as the leading health care institution in the state of Alabama and one of the finest in the nation.
It is a testament to the quality of care delivered every day by our faculty and staff, and the continued excellence of our innovative therapies, groundbreaking research and outstanding patient care.”
Reid Jones, CEO of UAB Medicine

“High Performing” classification

U.S News and World Report also rates hospitals in 17 adult procedures/conditions. UAB received the highest honor of “high performing” in all but 3 of those categories. The categories that UAB were recognized for are below.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Acute kidney failure
Aortic valve surgery
COPD
Colon cancer surgery
Diabetes
Heart attack
Pneumonia
Heart failure
Lung cancer surgery
Heart bypass surgery
Spinal fusion
Stroke
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

How are they graded?

According to the U.S News and World Report, hospital performance is measured in 15 specialties. First, Data-driven analysis determines the rankings using three primary metrics of health care. The metrics measured are structure, process/expert opinion, and outcomes. The American Hospital Association Annual Survey provides the data from most structural measures.

Afterwards, the National Cancer Institute’s list of NIH-designated cancer centers and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s roster of Nurse Magnet hospitals provide addition resources for the rankings.

What does this mean?

U.S News and World Report have honored UAB before. Publications continually recognize UAB for its excellence. That is something to be excited about.