One of 247 high-performing hospitals outside major metropolitan areas

Methodist Medical Center is among the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals 2011-12, according to U.S. News & World Report, publisher of Best Hospitals. U.S. News annually publishes the Best Hospitals rankings in July. At the midpoint of the 2011-12 year, its editors have now recognized 247 hospitals outside major metropolitan areas, including Methodist, as Best Regional Hospitals. The list of those hospitals is available online at www.usnews.com/bestregionalhospitals.

Hospitals like Methodist Medical Center offer a high level of medical care to communities that otherwise might have limited options, says Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. “All Best Regional Hospitals are what we call ‘high performers’ in at least one medical specialty,” says Comarow. “They are fully capable of providing first-rate care, even to most patients who have serious conditions or need demanding procedures.”

U.S. News annually evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in 16 different medical specialties. Hard numbers stand behind its analysis in most specialties—death rates, patient safety, procedure volume, and other objective data. Physicians’ responses to a national survey, in which specialists are asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also are factored in.