S.C. Fails to Make List of Top Hospitals

South Carolina’s hospitals have some catching up to do with the rest of the country, according the annual Best Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report today.

Since the news organization began ranking hospitals in 1990, none of South Carolina’s 90 hospitals have made the prestigious honor roll. That list is described on usnews.com as “an unusually exclusive club, one that makes up less than 0.4 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide.” Each of the 17 on the list is ranked in six or more of 16 medical specialties.

This year was no different. Even Medical University Hospital, No. 1 in South Carolina with three nationally ranked specialities, didn’t make the cut.

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore was named No. 1 in the country. Massachusetts General in Boston and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., were named No. 2 and 3.

“I definitely believe that MUSC will move up the rankings — we have done so in recent history and there is every reason to think that it will continue into the future,” said Medical University of South Carolina President Ray Greenberg. “Part of the ranking system involves an institution’s reputation, and for a place that is an ‘up and comer’ there is always a bit of a reputational lag.”

Greenberg announced last week that he will soon leave MUSC for a position within the University of Texas health care system. It includes the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, named No. 1 for cancer treatment in the country in the new rankings.

Three of MUSC’s specialities — ear, nose and throat, nephrology, and rheumatology — made top 50 lists in the nation.

“It is a nice recognition of the work that our faculty and staff do,” said Dr. Richard Silver, an MUSC rheumatologist.

U.S. News & World Report ranked MUSC’s rheumatology program the 17th best in the country. The hospital’s ear, nose and throat and nephrology departments were ranked 27th and 40th, respectively.

The rankings recognized seven other South Carolina hospitals as high-achievers in the state, including Roper Hospital (No. 4) and St. Francis Hospital (No. 6), both part of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare system.

U.S. News & World Report: Best hospitals in S.C.

1. Medical University Hospital

2. Greenville Memorial Hospital

3. Spartanburg Regional Medical Center

4. Roper Hospital

5. AnMed Health (Anderson)

6. Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital

7. McLeod Health (Florence)

8. Mary Black Memorial Hospital (Spartanburg)

Source: 2013-2014 U.S. News & World Report hospital rankings

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