UK HealthCare stays No. 1 in state, nationally ranked in 4 specialties

The UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital is once again the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region, according to the 2018 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Rankings released today.

In addition, four major healthcare areas have achieved Top 50 national rankings. UK HealthCare national rankings include 33rd in Diabetes & Endocrinology, 38th in Cancer, and 45th in both Ear, Nose & Throat and Orthopaedics.

Along with the Top 50 rankings, UK HealthCare is ranked as high-performing in five other adult specialties: Geriatrics; Nephrology; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Pulmonology; and Urology. Additionally, the healthcare system was designated high-performing in six common adult procedures and conditions: Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Colon Cancer Surgery, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement and Lung Cancer Surgery.

As many patients in across Kentucky struggle with the most complex health issues, these recognitions reaffirm UK HealthCare’s role as the academic medical center uniquely qualified to address our state’s extensive health needs, said Dr. Mark F. Newman, UK executive vice president for health affairs.

“In acknowledging our national rankings and achievements, one common factor to our success is the people who work here,” he said. “These rankings and recognitions are a testament to the dedication of everyone at UK HealthCare and their commitment to continuously improving quality and service provided to our patients.”

For the 2018-19 rankings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 158 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.

Cancer from 50th to 38th

Cancer care was included in the Top 50 for the second year in a row — although it has consistently been designated as high-performing for many years. This year’s significant move from 50th to 38th is indicative of the UK Markey Cancer Center’s continued emphasis on providing exemplary care as Kentucky’s only National Cancer Institute-designated center.

“More than 50 percent of our patients come from Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia where we have the highest cancer rates in the country,” said Dr. Mark Evers, director of the UK Markey Cancer Center. “With this ranking and our NCI-designation, this puts us on par with the top major cancer centers in the country and our patients should feel comfortable that they don’t need to go anywhere else to receive the highest quality care.”

Diabetes from 37th to 33rd

This year’s rankings also included the second year in a row that UK’s Diabetes & Endocrinology program has been named a Top 50 program and has increased its ranking from 37th in the country to 33rd, a testament to both the clinical care and research at UK’s Barnstable-Brown Diabetes Center.

“Diabetes is a complex disease that affects the whole body, and it is important to come to receive care at a place like UK’s Barnstable-Brown Diabetes Center where our team can provide the comprehensive needs of patients all in one place,” said Dr. John Fowlkes, director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center.

This collaboration and patient-centered care offered at the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center provides patients with outstanding clinical care throughout their lifespan and for all aspects of their health, added Dr. Kristen Stakelin, medical director at BBDC.

Ear, Nose & Throat is 45th

UK’s Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, also known as ENT (ear, nose and throat) is the 45th ranked program in the country. The program addresses all facets of the medical and surgical care of the ear, nose and throat region, said Dr. Raleigh Jones, chair of the department.

“Our team of physicians and nurses have always worked hard to provide excellent care and this ranking is recognition that our hard work is paying off,” he said.

Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine is 45th

Also ranked 45th is the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine where specialists and fellowship-trained surgeons are world-renowned for developing and implementing state-of-the-art techniques to diagnose and treat bone and joint disorders.

“I think the success of orthopaedics is based on the whole system that we have at the university,” said Dr. Jeffrey Selby, acting chair of the department. “We have a team that’s looking for ways to treat patients better every day. We have all of the orthopaedic subspecialties covered and can take care of all orthopaedic problems. No other hospital in the region can say that. This is the place where all of the complicated cases around central and eastern Kentucky are sent.”

For nearly 30 years, U.S. News has striven 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 give patients and their physicians’ information to support their search for the best care across a range of specialties.”

Next steps:

• The UK Markey Cancer Center earned the renewal of its NCI designation this past Friday. Find out what this prestigious designation and its multimillion dollar grant means for the people of Kentucky.
• UK Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery was ranked 45th in the country by U.S. News. The program also recently opened a new ENT clinic; learn more about what ENT doctors treat and check out the photo gallery of the clinic’s new features.