Banner Estrella Medical Center ranked in the Top Ten best hospitals
in Phoenix in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings

PHOENIX (July 20, 2011) – Banner Estrella Medical Center, and three other Banner Health hospital, was recognized for multiple clinical distinctions in U.S. News & World Report's Phoenix-metropolitan area Best Hospitals rankings.

Banner Estrella is recognized for clinical excellence in Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Pulmonology, as well as its
commitment to technology as one of two Arizona hospitals listed in U.S. News & World Reports’ “Most Connected” rankings.

“Since opening in 2005, Banner Estrella has been accepted as a leader in innovation and excellent patient care by our patients, our physicians and our system,” said Rob Gould, CEO of Banner Estrella. “To see this recognition from an outside source helps solidify our belief that commitment to kindness, caring, and clinical quality truly helps us make a difference in our patient’s lives.”

The rankings recognize 720 hospitals out of about 5,000 hospitals nationwide. Each is ranked among the country’s top hospitals in at least one medical specialty and/or ranked among the best hospitals in its metro area.

U.S. News created Best Hospitals 22 years ago to identify hospitals exceptionally skilled in handling the most difficult cases, such as brain tumors typically considered inoperable, and delicate pancreatic procedures.

Banner hospitals receiving multiple high-performing specialty distinctions include:

• #1 Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center: eight high-performing specialties
• #4 Banner Desert Medical Center: 12 high-performing specialties
• #6 Banner Thunderbird Medical Center: nine high-performing specialties
• # 10 Banner Estrella Medical Center: three high-performing specialties

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been recognized by U.S .News as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for 12 years, receiving national rankings in four specialty areas in the 2011-12 report. The four specialty areas are cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology, geriatrics and gynecology.

Other Banner hospitals that appeared in this ranking were Banner Boswell Medical Center, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Banner Heart Hospital, Banner Baywood Medical Center, and Banner Gateway Medical Center.

Covering 94 metro areas in the U.S., the regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions.