By Leslie Ridgeway
USC Health Sciences Public Relations and Marketing

USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital ranked first and second among Los Angeles hospitals in Consumer Reports’ new ratings of more than 3,400 hospitals nationwide.
 
USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital ranked in the top 5 percent of 310 California hospitals in the magazine’s first-ever ratings, published Aug. 3 on Consumer Reports’ “Health.org” website.
 
University Hospital also ranked significantly over the national average in the magazine’s rating of 48 teaching hospitals for patient satisfaction.
 
“It’s an honor to know that our patients think so highly of us, and this is due to the dedication of our hospital personnel and physicians,” said Mitch Creem, CEO, USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. “The ratings show us we’re going in the right direction and will help us focus on improving and enhancing the patient experience across the USC clinical enterprise. Providing great service to our patients is our highest priority.”
 
The ratings, based on the federal government’s Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and the Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare, assess hospitals based on several criteria, including: Patient communication with doctors and nurses, pain management, information about medications, discharge information, and whether patients would recommend the hospital to family and friends.
 
“When Consumer Reports says a product is good, people listen,” said Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., dean of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “The top ranking among teaching hospitals affirms the value of the education we provide here at Keck.”
 
Both USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital rated well above average in categories of physician and nurse communication, as well as pain management, attentiveness of staff, and cleanliness of rooms.
 
The ratings are available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.