Once Again, Loma Linda Recognized Among the Best Regional Hospitals

By: Sheann Brandon, Loma Linda University Health, and Adventist Review

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Loma Linda University Medical Center as the No. 2 hospital in the Riverside and San Bernardino metro area in California, United States, for 2019-20.

The medical center was also nationally ranked in gynecology and was recognized as “high performing” in seven other areas.

Released on July 30, 2019, the annual rankings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or common elective procedures.

The “high performing” rating recognizes care as significantly better than the national average, measured by factors such as patient outcomes.

“These U.S. News rankings affirm Loma Linda University Medical Center’s commitment to provide the best possible care for every patient,” said Kerry Heinrich, CEO of the medical center. “These honors confirm their efforts.”

One of the medical center’s adult specialties — gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery — was recognized as “high performing.”

Six common procedures and conditions treated were also ranked “high performing,” including aortic valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colon cancer surgery, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, and knee replacement.

For the 2019-20 rankings and ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures, and conditions. In the 16 specialty areas, 165 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.

The U.S. News Best Hospitals methodologies in most areas of care are based largely on objective measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators.

About Loma Linda University Health

Loma Linda University Health is an academic medical center operating six hospitals, a physician practice corporation, remote clinics in the western United States, and affiliate organizations around the world. These medical services interact with the eight schools that make up the health-care-focused university. According to its website, “This mutual pursuit of excellence leads to outstanding care for our patients and great learning opportunities for our students.”

A Seventh-day Adventist institution, Loma Linda University Health is committed “to make man whole,” physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. “Each day, we seek to extend the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” its website states. “More than 16,000 employees fulfill that mission through their nationally recognized quality healthcare delivery.”

Loma Linda’s internationally respected researchers publish more than 500 peer-reviewed articles every year, uncovering new approaches to nutrition, cancer treatment, heart disease, neonatal development, stroke and brain trauma, and others.

The original version of this story was posted on the Loma Linda University Health news site.