Commendations in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Gynecology, Heart Care & Surgery and Kidney Disease

Banner Good Samaritan was recognized for four primary clinical programs – Gastrointestinal Disorders (#28), Gynecology (#28), Heart Care and Surgery (#34) and Kidney Disease (#37). This equals the most U.S.News rankings the hospital has received previously (four in 2007 for Gynecology, Heart Care and Surgery, Kidney Disease and Urology).

Researchers for the U.S. News survey reviewed 5,453 American hospitals in preparation for this much-anticipated issue. Of those medical facilities, only 170 (3 percent) were ultimately included in the 2008 report. Sixteen specialties were considered, and the top 50 hospitals in the country were ranked in each specialty.

“The America’s Best Hospitals rankings provide readers with trusted material during some of life’s most concerning times – hospitalization,” said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S.News & World Report. “Our rankings highlight the internal culture of excellence embraced by caregivers in the great hospitals throughout the U.S.”

“Talent and money alone don’t put hospitals in the rankings,” agreed Best Hospitals Editor Avery Comarow. “The truly best hospitals are never satisfied. Of course they have high medical standards. But the emphasis is not only on doing well, but always doing better – squeezing another few percentage points out of the infection rate, improving the quality of life of elderly patients besides helping more of them survive.”

“We are honored that U.S. News has recognized Banner Good Samaritan as one of ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ again,” said Larry Volkmar, CEO, Banner Good Samaritan. “So many of our patients and their physicians in the Southwest region know the reputation this hospital has for excellent patient care. We are especially pleased to be ranked in specialties that are so central to our patients’ needs.

“Two of the rankings – gastrointestinal disorders and kidney disease – are very exciting for the Banner Good Samaritan Transplant Services. Many of our patients in the kidney and liver programs are on the waiting list for organ transplantation. We are very proud that these two specialties have been recognized for their excellence in patient care, patient outcomes and innovative means to increase transplantation, such as the anonymous matched-pair kidney transplant chains,” Volkmar added.

While the hospital has been acknowledged recently by U.S. News for its gynecology, heart care services and kidney services, this marks the second time that Banner Good Samaritan has been honored for excellence in Gastrointestinal Disorders, which recognizes a hospital’s ability to make liver transplants safer for patients, deciphering the genetics of obesity and upping the colonoscopy rate as the category’s targets.

“Banner Good Samaritan’s Liver Disease program, now nationally and internationally recognized for our work and research in liver cancer and acute liver failure, provides quality medical assistance to the entire state of Arizona and the Southwest through our center in Phoenix and the dozens of rural facilities we visit each year,” said Richard Manch, MD, medical director of the Liver Disease Center. “Our physicians and care providers treat patients suffering from diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, and offer support services for patients who are facing a liver transplant.

“One of the qualities that helps our patients is the working relationship between the excellent physicians and staff at the hospital’s Bariatric Center, Medical Imaging, Outpatient Treatment Center, Liver Disease Center, Transplant Services and General Surgery. Banner Good Samaritan is well deserving of its reputation for delivering excellent patient care,” Dr. Manch added.

In ranking hospitals, U.S.News & World Report takes into account a reputation score; mortality data; patient volume; nurse staffing ratios and whether the hospital has achieved Magnet status in nursing; technology and advanced services; patient services that support care and recovery; whether the hospital is a Level I trauma center or NCI-designated cancer center, and certain accreditations pursued by the hospital.

While it is not Banner Good Samaritan’s direct ranking, an item of note is City of Hope’s (Duarte, Calif.) No. 22 ranking on America’s Best Hospitals in the Cancer category and No. 23 in Urology. City of Hope is a partner in care with Banner Health for the City of Hope-Banner Bone Marrow Transplant Program, located inside of Banner Good Samaritan. Through this program, more than 800 patients with cancer or blood diseases have found new hope through a bone marrow, umbilical cord blood or blood cell transplant.

About Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a nonprofit organization, and is a flagship hospital within the system. Banner Good Samaritan has been recognized as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care and practices. For more information about Banner Good Samaritan, please visit www.BannerHealth.com, keyword: “Good Sam.”

About the U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis which includes U.S.News & World Report magazine, www.usnews.com and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group’s signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its “America’s Best” series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans and more. To review the 2008 Best Hospital survey results go to www.usnews.com/besthospitals.

Contact:
Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations
(602) 239-4411