Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center has been named to the 2011 U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Hospitals” list. The world-renowned facility ranked 7th out of the 138 hospitals ranked in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and was the only rehabilitation hospital listed.
Rancho, one of five hospitals in the Los Angels County Department of Health Services family, has been ranked one of America’s best hospitals for 21 consecutive years since the inception of the U.S. News & World Report survey in 1990. It is the only County operated hospital to appear in the top ten.
“This ranking is a testament to the incredible and innovative work that Rancho does with their patients,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. “Rancho is at the head of the class in rehabilitative innovation, incorporating technology and art for both physical and emotional rehab. Through art, sports and other creative and active outlets, Rancho helps patients not only overcome their physical challenges, but also gives them the confidence to move into self-sufficiency. The credit goes to each and every Rancho team member for the effort they put forth each day to give patients world-class care. I am so proud of Rancho for this well deserved honor.”
The U.S. News ranking differs from other rankings by looking at how well a hospital handles complex and demanding situations and involves surveys completed by 10,000 physicians worldwide. A total of 4,852 hospitals were considered for this year’s survey, but only 152 hospitals were ranked in one of16 specialties including rehabilitation, cancer, heart and heart surgery, kidney disorders, urology, neurology and neurosurgery.
Scoring criteria included reputation, mortality index, patient safety, and care related factors such as nurse staffing, and available technology, however in the ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology specialties hospitals were ranked on reputation alone. Of the 152 hospitals ranked in one or more specialties, 14 qualified for Honor Roll by earning high scores in at least six specialties.
Rancho offers a full spectrum of both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. The hospital has been a leader in advancing rehabilitation medicine for more than half a century, including the introduction of the first ever halo, used for neck injuries. Rancho serves an average daily inpatient population of 147 persons and experiences approximately 57,000 outpatient visits annually. The hospital is also renowned for its tradition of research leadership.