2:01pm | Long Beach Memorial Medical Center has been ranked as the eighth out of 138 hospitals in the greater Los Angeles-area in the recently released U.S. News & World Report 2010-2011 standings of U.S. hospitals, placing it in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the region.
According to U.S. News, the hospital excels in 12 areas, including cancer; diabetes and endocinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; geriatrics; gynecology; heart and heart surgery; kidney disorders; neurology and neurosurgery; othopedics; pulmonology; and urology.
The publication states on its website that it evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties from cancer to urology. Taken into account were death rates, patient safety and each hospital’s reputation with more than 9,000 specialists.
In a synopsis on Long Beach Memorial, U.S News states on its website that the hospital “performed nearly at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals in 12 adult specialties.”
In terms of patient satisfaction, the hospital ranks well above both the state and national averages. According to survey results, 79 percent of patients upon being discharged said they would definitely recommend the hospital to family and friends. Statewide, only 67 percent of patients said they would do so, and at the national level, 68 percent responded similarly. Only 3 percent of patients said they would probably not or definitely not recommend Long Beach Memorial, which is well below the state average of 7 percent and the national average of 6 percent.
Most U.S. hospitals currently sample survey recently discharged patients about their stay as part of a federal program, according to U.S. News.
In the latest year for which data was available, the Atlantic Avenue hospital had 24,083 admissions, performed 6,863 inpatient and 6,089 outpatient surgeries, and its emergency room had 52,496 visits, according to U.S. News.
The 420-bed, not-for-profit medical and surgical hospital operated by MemorialCare and accredited by the Joint Commission, as well as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, has served Long Beach and surrounding communities for more than 100 years.