UC Irvine Medical Center is ranked among America’s best for 12th year in a row
U.S. News & World Report recognizes hospital’s exemplary geriatrics program
July 17, 2012
For the 12th consecutive year, UCI Medical Center has been ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Its geriatrics program placed 35th among the country’s top 50. The annual “America’s Best Hospitals” listing is currently available online.
“We are proud of the outstanding care our physicians, nurses and staff provide the people of Orange County as shown by our consistent recognition as a top hospital,” said Terry A. Belmont, CEO of UCI Medical Center. “We are committed to delivering compassionate, quality-driven and world-class patient care.”
UC Irvine’s geriatrics program is a national and international leader in the clinical care of older adults. The SeniorHealth Center in Orange is staffed by an interdisciplinary team led by geriatricians trained to deliver primary care and offer consultations about specific concerns, such as frailty, memory loss, depression and falls.
“We do our utmost to provide superb medical care in a loving environment,” said Dr. Laura Mosqueda, chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Family Medicine, director of its geriatrics program and Ronald Reagan Chair in Geriatrics.
She said the geriatrics team—which includes physicians, pharmacologists, psychologists, social workers, nurses and others—places a major emphasis on enhancing quality of life for patients and their families through a holistic approach.
Innovative offerings include:
- Health Assessment Program for Seniors—a comprehensive physical, cognitive and psychological evaluation to help older adults with complex concerns enhance their quality of life;
- Memory Disorder Clinic—a service at the SeniorHealth Center in which neurologists, geriatricians and neuropsychologists seek to identify causes of memory impairment; and
- IMPACT—a program that complements clinical care with treatment of depression and anxiety in older adults.
Furthermore, UC Irvine’s geriatrics program has been a pioneer in the effort to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of elder abuse in the U.S. In September 2011, the federal Administration on Aging named it the National Center on Elder Abuse.
UC Irvine is the only Orange County medical center consistently rated among America’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Since 2001, the magazine has bestowed national recognition on its programs in urology, gynecology, cancer, digestive disorders, kidney disease, and ear, nose & throat.
Last year, U.S. News & World Report released its first-ever regional hospital rankings online. UC Irvine is currently cited as Orange County’s top hospital and fifth-best among Los Angeles-area medical centers. The publication noted its excellence in 10 specialties.
In addition, UC Irvine’s medical faculty has more of Orange County’s “Best Doctors” than any other local hospital.
For the 2012 “America’s Best Hospitals” listing, U.S. News & World Report evaluated about 5,000 medical centers nationwide and ranked fewer than 150 of them, or 3 percent, in at least one of 16 specialties based on their ability to treat the most challenging cases. Using methodology created by RTI International, the magazine assessed each hospital’s reputation, mortality rate and patient care services. Additional points were awarded for Magnet status in nursing or designation as a Level I trauma center – both of which apply to UC Irvine Medical Center.
About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new, 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. For 12 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has counted UC Irvine among “America’s Best Hospitals."
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4 billion. For more UC Irvine news, visit today.uci.edu.
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