U.S. News & World Report Names Ingalls Among Nation’s Best 6 Years In A Row

(July, 2007) For the sixth year in a row, Ingalls Memorial Hospital has been named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in the 18th annual edition of U.S. News & World Report published July 15. This year, Ingalls was ranked 36th in the nation for excellence in Neurology and Neurosurgery, moving up from No. 41 in the publication’s 2006 ranking.

Consisting mostly of large university-affiliated or big-city hospitals from across the nation, the prestigious ranking includes such names as Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic and UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ingalls was the ONLY community hospital in the area to be named to the list six years in a row, and one of only a few in the entire nation to receive this distinction.

“More than 5,400 hospitals nationwide were evaluated by U.S. News & World Report, and only 173 scored high enough to make the final list,” explains Kurt Johnson, Ingalls president and chief executive officer. “As one of the very few community hospitals in the United States to achieve this distinction, Ingalls is extremely proud to be in the company of Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, UCLA Medical Center and other nationally ranked medical centers. At Ingalls, we truly have world-class physicians, technology and expertise that put our programs and services – and our neuroscience programs, in particular – amongst the best in the nation.”

U.S. News & World Report determined the top 50 hospitals in each of 16 medical specialties by compiling data from 5,462 medical centers nationwide during a three-year period. In order to be named a “best hospital,” Ingalls had to meet various requirements, which were based on a number of criteria, including reputation, clinical quality data, technological capabilities, the number of inpatients and the severity of their conditions, and nursing care.

“Collaboration among clinical departments, physicians, nurses and support teams – and a supportive, enlightened administration – are the keys to our success in neurology and neurosurgery year after year,” says Martin Luken, M.D., medical director of Ingalls Neurosurgery program and past president of the Ingalls Medical Staff.

“Another factor that puts Ingalls above the rest is our commitment to the early detection and treatment of stroke,” adds Kevin Fagan, M.D., medical director of Neurology at Ingalls. “Our emergency stroke protocol combines the efforts of several key hospital departments to ensure that stroke patients are diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. Numerous studies have shown that immediate diagnosis and treatment of stroke not only saves the brain, it saves lives.”

A Full Continuum of Care

Ingalls neuroscience program includes a full continuum of care, including the most sophisticated diagnostic capabilities; a full range of minimally invasive treatments and surgical options; multi-disciplinary pain management and one of the most comprehensive rehabilitation programs in the area. For patient convenience, many of these services are offered at multiple locations, including the main hospital campus in Harvey and at Ingalls Family Care Center locations in Tinley Park, Calumet City and Flossmoor.

In addition, all neurosurgery patients at Ingalls benefit from the services of two highly skilled nurse navigators who help facilitate all aspects of care before and after surgery, including coordinating referrals, scheduling tests and treatments, answering questions, and providing education about what to expect before and after surgical procedures. Ingalls nurse navigators also advise patients and family members on how to make special arrangements for post-surgical care; ready their homes for discharge from the hospital; and anticipate possible post-surgical restrictions.

“The neurosciences program at Ingalls truly offers the scope and services of any major academic medical center…in Chicago or anywhere else. Our sixth year as being named one of America’s best is confirmation of that,” Dr. Luken concluded. “Our patients consistently tell us how proud they are to have a hospital like Ingalls so close to where they live.”

For more information about the physicians and services involved with Ingalls top-rated neuroscience programs, call Ingalls at 1.800.221.2199 or visit www.ingallshealthsystem.org.

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