Vidant Medical Center earns best regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

One of 247 high-performing hospitals outside major metropolitan areas

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Vidant 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 Vidant Medical Center, as Best Regional Hospitals. The list of those hospitals is available online at www.usnews.com/bestregionalhospitals.

    "We are pleased to be listed by U.S. News as a 'best hospital'," said Steve Lawler, president of Vidant Medical Center. "We are committed to providing best-in-class care and best-in-class experience to the people and communities we are so privileged to care for and serve. This 'best hospital ' status is without question the result of the excellent work of our health are team - our our superb medical staff and employees."

    Vidant Medical Center also is singled out for recognition of three areas of medical specialty:

    nephrology, the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, pulmonology, dealing with diseases involving the respiratory tract; and urology, which focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males.

    Hospitals like Vidant 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," Comarow said. "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.


    Contact: Carissa Etters, Strategic Development, (252)847-0413 or Carissa.Etters@VidantHealth.com

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in nine eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. The health system includes Albemarle Health, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Pungo Hospital, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.